Edward+John+Eyre



Background Information: Edward John Eyre was born on the 5th August 1815 in Whipsnade, Beddfordshire, England. Together with his aboriginal friend Wylie, Eyre was the first man to cross southern Australia from east to west, travelling across the Nullarbor Plain from Adelaide to Albany. Eyre was born in England where his father was a minister. He came to Australia when he was seventeen years old.

Education and previous employment : Edward John was educated at schools near Rotherham and Grantham, at Louth, and at Sedbergh. He had wanted to enter the army, but at the age of 17, his father suggested he'd used the purchase money to immigrate to Australia. He departed from London to Australia and arrived in Sydney in 1833. At the time there were no available jobs so he bought some sheep and property and became a farmer. Between 1833 and 1836- he worked on other properties for more experience, especially in ‘Hunter Valley.’ Skills and Characteristics: His Skills and characteristics were being an explorer,grazier(cattle),grazier(sheep),Indigenous culture recorder,magistrate,overlander,protector of aboriginals. ( More information added in the expedition section) Migration To Australia: He intended to join the army, but at the age of 17 at his father's suggestion he used the purchase money to emigrate to Australia.He instantly arrived in sydney on the 20th of March 1833. Finding no prospects in Sydney,he moved to the hunter district. In July he bought a flock of 400 sheep and started his early life in Australia



Expeditions:

Edward John Eyre conducted many small expeditions in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. Eyre unlocked a large part of South Australia for settlement which was not only crucial back then but is very importsnt today. He then wanted to open up a route to the centre of Australia. In 1839, he set off to reach the centre. Lake Torrens was a lake full of salt and mud. His way was blocked by swamps in one direction and by sand hills in another, so he followed the Flinders Ranges to Mount Hopeless, where he turned back.

Because of his skills in the bush, Eyre was made the leader the expedition. He volunteered to lead it and pay half the costs. In 1840, he set out from Adelaide. The party was made up of 6 white men, including Baxter, his station manager, an aboriginal friend called Wylie and 2 other aborigines. They took with them 13 horses, 40 sheep and supplies to last them 3 months. Eyre travelled westward across what is now known as the Eyre Peninsula and along the coast. The harsh conditions and lack of water forced him to send all of the members of his party back to Adelaide, except for Baxter, Wylie and 2 other aborigines. Eyre thought that a smaller party would have more chance of success.

By the time the expedition reached the top of the Great Australian Bight, they were dangerously out of water. However they were saved by friendly aborigines who showed Eyre how to find water by digging behind the sand dunes on the shore. When the party were about halfway to the West Australian coast, it was winter. One night while Eyre was keeping watch he heard a gun blast and found Wylie running towards him in alarm. Two of the aborigines had murdered Baxter and had disappeared with most of the supplies and firearms. Wylie, however, refused to go with them and stayed with Eyre. They were now feeling desperate.

In June 1841, the crew came upon a French whaling ship anchored off the coast and they were lucky enough to be able to rest for a fortnight. The captain, an Englishman, named Rossiter provided them with food and even some wine and brandy.After resting for two weeks, they were now both fit and #|strong, well clothed and had plenty of food. The journey became much easier. In July, they reached Albany, after travelling through heavy rains and cold weather. Their journey had lasted four and a half months.Eyre was awarded a gold medal of the Royal Geographic Society for this incredible journey. Despite his hardship, Eyre lived to be 86. In 1846, he was made Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand. He was also made governor in various parts of the West Indies. Eyre retired to England, where he lived until his death in 1901. Wylie was rewarded with a pension, and he remained in Albany, happy to be among his own people once again.



What they discovered: Edward John Eyre discovered Lake Eyre. Lake Eyre was one of several salt lakes which blocked Eyre's attempt to cross from south to north. He also discovered Lake Blanche, Lake Torrens and Lake Callabonna.

__This a picture taken from an plane above Lake Eyre which is a salt lake in Alice Springs__ Why are we studying it today?

We are studying it today for many important and interesting reasons. Firstly, it is important to know how our country was settled and then developed. Edward John Eyre was an essential part of Australia because he discovered then mapped the route between Adelaide and Perth, today known as the Eyre Highway named in is honour. Without Edward's exploration, the area between Adelaide and Perth could still be unknown today. Eyre was one of the most important people in Australian history and contributed a lot to the development of our country.

What references are made to the expedition today? Lake Eyre was named after Edward Eyre. He was the first white person to discover it. Also the Eyre Highway is named after him, and so is the Eyre Peninsula and a tiny place called Eyre. Edward John Eyre school and the Eyre Hotel. The villages of Eyreton and west Eyreton in canterbury New Zealand, Eyre creek was also named after him.

A diary entry: Written by Edward John EyreHits: 643 In offering to the public an account of Expeditions of Discovery in Australia, undertaken in the years 1840–1, and completed in July of the latter year, some apology may be deemed necessary for this narrative not having sooner appeared, or perhaps even for its being now published at all. With respect to the first, the author would remark that soon after his return to South Australia upon the close of the Expeditions, and when contemplating an immediate return to England, he was invited by the Governor of the Colony to remain, and undertake the task of re–establishing peace and amicable relations with the numerous native tribes of the Murray River, and its neighbourhood, whose daring and successful outrages in 1841, had caused very great losses to, and created serious apprehensions among the Colonists.

Another Diary entry on the Aborigines: Written by Edward John EyreHits: 390 Upon bringing to a close the narrative of an Expedition of Discovery in Australia, during the progress of which an extensive portion of the previously unknown parts of that continent were explored, I have thought it might not be uninteresting to introduce a few pages on the subject of the Aborigines of the country.

It would afford me much gratification to see an interest excited on their behalf proportioned to the claims of a people who have hitherto been misjudged or misrepresented.

For the last twelve years I have been personally resident in one or other of the Australian Colonies, and have always been in frequent intercourse with the aboriginal tribes that were near, rarely being without some of them constantly with me as domestics. (To read more please follow the link: http://www.australianexplorers.com.au/eyre-aborigines-ch-1 )

References:
 * http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/eyre-edward-john-2032
 * (State Library of South Australia, SLSA: B 6693
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyre_Highway
 * http://www.australianexplorers.com.au/eyre-aborigines-ch-2
 * www.davidreilly.com/australianexplorers/eyre/edward.htm
 * http://adb.anu.edu.au/biorgraphy/eyre-edward-john-2032
 * bibliography:http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/eyre-edward-john-2032
 * Edward John Eyre handout
 * [] (accessed on the 13th and 14th of June 2012)
 * http://www.australianexplorers.com.au/eyre-aborigines-ch-1 (accessed on the 13th and 15th of June 2012)