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Robert O'Hara Burke

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Robert O'Hara Burke Famous memorial

Birth
County Galway, Ireland
Death
28 Jun 1861 (aged 40)
Innamincka, Outback Communities Authority, South Australia, Australia
Burial
Carlton North, Melbourne City, Victoria, Australia GPS-Latitude: -37.7891222, Longitude: 144.9655139
Memorial ID
View Source
Australian Explorer. A native of Ireland, he migrated to Australia in 1853 where he became a policeman. Although he had no exploration experience, he was chosen by the governemnt of Victoria to lead an expedition across Australia from south to north. Together with William John Wills they are credited as the first men to cross Australia. He made it to Cooper's Creek, the halfway mark, by November, but grew impatient of waiting for the rest of his group to catch up, so he along with three other men began the trek to the northern coast of Australia. The journey was a disaster, one man died on the journey and when he and Wills returned to Cooper's Creek they found few supplies and a note that the men left behind that said they had returned home. Weak, malnourished and with few Bushman skills he and Wills died a slow and painful death, dying of starvation. The third man was found and cared for by Aborigines.
Australian Explorer. A native of Ireland, he migrated to Australia in 1853 where he became a policeman. Although he had no exploration experience, he was chosen by the governemnt of Victoria to lead an expedition across Australia from south to north. Together with William John Wills they are credited as the first men to cross Australia. He made it to Cooper's Creek, the halfway mark, by November, but grew impatient of waiting for the rest of his group to catch up, so he along with three other men began the trek to the northern coast of Australia. The journey was a disaster, one man died on the journey and when he and Wills returned to Cooper's Creek they found few supplies and a note that the men left behind that said they had returned home. Weak, malnourished and with few Bushman skills he and Wills died a slow and painful death, dying of starvation. The third man was found and cared for by Aborigines.

Bio by: Bigwoo


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Bigwoo
  • Added: Jun 15, 2005
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11177546/robert_o'hara-burke: accessed ), memorial page for Robert O'Hara Burke (6 May 1821–28 Jun 1861), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11177546, citing Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton North, Melbourne City, Victoria, Australia; Maintained by Find a Grave.