Robert O'Hara Burke and Thomas Pope Besnard were childhood friends. As sexton of the local Back Creek Cemetery Thomas Besnard organised a subscription to raise the money for a monument to Burke, Wills and Gray. A subscription of one shilling, no more and not less, was asked so all subscribers were equal. The Bendigo monument was designed by Adam Duncan and features a Corinthian column mounted on a foundation stone, topped with a Grecian urn draped with the Union Jack. The stone for the monument was quarried from New Chum Mine. The site in the Bendigo Cemetery was selected by Besnard so the monument was on a grass knoll well clear of any other graves. The design included landscaping with a path and garden beds that provided dignified access. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo has been entered on the Register of the National Estate as being important for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo. The foundation block was laid on 20 August 1862 by Chairman of the Bendigo Municipality, Charles Burrows – exactly two years after the Expedition left Melbourne. A half day holiday was declared by Bendigo Council, and a procession left the Bendigo Town Hall and marched to the cemetery where 8000 people were gathered and another 4000 lined the route. John King was unable to attend due to ill health. Chairman of the Municipality of Bendigo, Charles Burrows, gave a long address, and diaries of members of the expedition, the Sandhurst Almanac, the Bendigo Advertiser, the Bendigo Independent Evening News, photographs of the deceased, photographs of Public Buildings in Bendigo, a Sydney half sovereign and all the silver coins of the Realm were wrapped in a Union Jack and placed in a niche in the foundation stone. Fifteen months later a column was erected on the foundation stone after Besnard openly criticised the Memorial Committee for their lack of action. The Bendigo Advertiser was disappointed at the location of the monument preferring a more central location and in 1893 an attempt was made to move the monument to Rosalind Park. On 19 May 1893, Mr Minto, the City Surveyor of the Bendigo MunicIpality reported it would cost £25, and no other action occurred. In 1940 the land around the memorial was sold off as grave sites and the paths and garden beds disappeared with graves now surrounding the base of the monument. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo Cemetery was entered on the Register of the National Estate for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo.Burke and Wills Memorial at Bendigo Cemetery, 2018Erected by the people of Bendigo in honor of the Victorian Explorers, Burke, Wills, Gray and King who first crossed the continent of Australia. King alone surviving the privation and suffering under which his three brave ill-fated companions sank. A.D. 1862. Robert O'Hara Burke, leader of the Victorian Expedition, left Melbounre 24th August 1860. Reached Carpentaria 12th Feby 1861. Died on his return at Coopers Creek, 30th June 1861. Charles Gray, died also on his return at Polygorum Swamp. 17th April 1861. William John Wills, second in command, died also near Coopers Creek, 29th June 1861. bendigo cemetery, burke and wills, burke and wills memorial, william john wills, john o'hara burke, charles gray, polygonum swamp, coopers creek, victorian expedition, carpentaria, bendigo public cemetery, bendigo remembrance park, thomas pope besnard

The fontain was once lit with gas and stocked with goldfish and tortoises.Colour photographs of the Burke and Wills Fountain in Sturt Street Balllarat.Plaque "Robert O'hara Burke, Leader. Died 30th June, 1861. William John Wills, Second. Died 30th June, 1861. Ludwig Becker, Naturalist. Died 29th April, 1861. Charles Grey, Assistant. Sied 17th April, 1861."burke and wills, burke and wills memorial, sturt street, ballarat, explorers, john king, robert o'hara burke

This is the report prepared by the Royal Society of Victoria regarding the ill fated expedition of the explorers Robert Burke and William Wills in 1861. This volume appears to be Chief Justice Stawell's, the president of the Royal Society, personal copy.The report is rare, held by both the University of Melbourne and the State Library, as well as a few other libraries.Red leather bound report of the Exploration Committee (Burke & Wills Expedition). Gold lettering on front.Progress reports & Final Report of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria 1872 on front cover in gold lettering. As well as Library stamp.

Ballarat son Robert O’Hara Burke and his good mate William John Wills are commemorated in the Burke & Wills Fountain. This memorial to the famous explorers also features the names of those who assisted their ill-fated crossing of Australia. The fountain was once lit with gas and stocked with goldfish and tortoises.The fountain is of historic and aesthetic significance to the people of BallaratBluestone and cast metal fountain Robert O'Hara Burke, Leader, Died 30th June, 1861. William John Wills, Second, Died 39th June, 1861. Ludwig Becker, Naturalist, Died 29th April, 1861. Charles Grey, Assistant, Died 17th April, 1861. John King the only survivor of the EXPEDITION Died at St Kilda January 13th 1872. In Memory of the explorers who perished while crossing the Australian Continent in the year 1861. Erected by the Inhabitants of Ballarat. burke & wills, robert o’hara burke, william john wills, ludwig becker, charles grey, john king

Robert O'Hara's last position before leaving on the expedition to reach the Gulf of Victoria was with the police force in Castlemaine. Four sided memorial for Robert O'Hara Burke and Wills in Castlemaine. robert o'hara burke, castlemaine, memorial, burke and wills

Colour photograph showing a townscape of Castlemaine from the Burke and Wills Memorial.castlemaine, burke and wills memorial, townscape

Born: East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1912; Lived and worked: England 1935-1949; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1949SurrealismBennett Bequest, 1999 Explorers Burke and Wills rest against a large rock with a bottle at their feet. Gold and grey brushed timber frameRecto: Not signed, not dated, not titled painting, figures, abstract, rock, water, bottle

Copy of sepia photograph of the first memorial to Burke and Wills in Castlemaine, when students made an excursion to Dunolly Scent Farm (or Castlemaine), pre 1894 in, "Prize Essays," Alfred E. Bennett, c.1894, after p 118.castlemaine, students, excursion, dunolly scent farm, prize essays, alfred e. bennett, memorial to burke and wills, obelisk

The Post Office building is located on the corner of Sturt and Lydiard Street North. This sketch comes from Album of View by Niven & Co.building, public, monuments, post office, burke & wills, ballarat, views of ballarat

centenary, buildings, mounuments, national mutual, burke & wills, ballarat, sturt street, lydiard street north

Also seen in the photograph are the electric telegraph, London Chartered Bank, Unicorn Hotel and the Mechanics' Institute.burke & wills monument, sturt street, buildings, monument, commerical, hotel, public, vehicle, persons

John McClare (1828-1926) was a pioneer of the district whose daughter Agnes was the first white child born in the district. Blackburn author Jean Field sent a history of the family to the Eastern Times - his is one of the episodes.John McClare (1828-1926) was a pioneer of the district whose daughter Agnes was the first white child born in the district. mcclare, john, mcclare, mary, mcclare, agnes, mitcham, vermont

Copy of a map from 'A Short History of Australia' by Ernest Scott.map, explorers, exploration, burke and wills, sturt, stuart, gregory, melbourne, perth, sydney, mitchell river, a.c. gregory, darling river, lachlan river, mt stuart, murray river

Copy of a map from 'A Short History of Australia' by Ernest Scott.map, explorers, exploration, stuart, gregory, melbourne, perth, sydney, darling river, murray river, adelaide, albany, fitzroy river, flinders river, brisbane, great australian bight, gulf of carpentaria, mount grey, forrest

The Burke and Wills expedition in 1860–61 planned to cross Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It was made up of 19 men led by Robert O'Hara Burke, with William John Wills as deputy commander. Only one man survived. This tour guide lists the Burke and Wills camp sites adjacent to Bendigo.The Five Burke and Wills Camps Adjacent to Bendigo Tour guide. Photocopy of six typed pages of variable format type, single page typing, black and white. Source unknownburke and wills, bendigo, tour guide, camp sites

The photograph and copy depict the Dig Tree, a coolibah tree on Cooper Creek linked to the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition of 1860–61. This was the site where Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills returned from the Gulf of Carpentaria and found their support party had left only hours earlier. And carvings on the tree pointed to buried supplies. The tree became a reminder of the tragedy and fatal misjudgements that led to it, as well as the harsh conditions of inland exploration.This 1910 photograph of the Dig Tree holds historic significance as it depicts one of the most iconic exploration sites. It captures the landscape and features of the location just fifty years after the expedition and offers insight into how the site was remembered and commemorated in the early 20th century. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper unmounted. 4611.1 Reverse: 84.75 1/4611-1/THE BURKE AND Wills "DIG TREE"./SITUATED ON NAPPA MERRIE STATION, COOPERS CREEK QLD,/PHOTO TAKEN BY JOHN W. CONRICK OF NAPPA MERRIE ABOUT 1910. 4611.2 Reverse: 4611-2robert o'hara burke, conrick john, burke expeditions, dig tree

Burke & Wills Cairn at Lancefield 14/05/1988Edith Lunnburk and wills, cairn, lancefield

DVD. Burke and Wills bus tour, 21st August 2010.

Slide. Bendigo Buildings & Scenery. Burke and Wills Monument at Bendigo Cemetery.slide, bendigo, bendigo buildings & scenery., bendigo buildings & scenery.

The Story of the Burke and Wills Expedition. From Melbourne to the Gulf of Ccarpentaria, 1860 - 1861.Ron Munroaustralia, pioneer history and early australia

I suspect that these are photographs before the celebrations for the coronation. See The Argus 13 May 1937 "Celebrations in Many Country Towns" Ballarat Celebrations BALLARAT Wednesday - Special Coronation celebrations were largely attended In the morning there was a service In Christ Church, at which representatlves of the council and other public bodies were present There was a similar gathering in St Andrew's Kirk At a civic service in the Alfred Hall in the afternoon the address was given by the Bishop of Ballarat (the Right Rev W Johnson). Bishop Johnson spoke of the personal association of King George V with his people, and said that the present King and Queen would be equally concerned with the welfare of their subjects The Revs H A Horsfall and B E Williams co-operated In the service, which was presided over by the Mayor (Councillor J Pryor) Mr Lloyd Lindsay recited Mase?Coronation ode and Miss W Ritchie sang "Land of Hope and Glory ' At night a Coronation concert was held in the Alfred Hallblack and white photograph of the Burke and Wills Fountain decorated for the Ballarat Celebrations in 1937.max walters, ballarat, celebrations, burke and wills fountain, anniversary, burke & wills

Slide. Bendigo Buildings & Scenery. Chapel at the Bendigo Cemetery and Burke & Wills Monument at the right.slide, bendigo, bendigo buildings & scenery., bendigo buildings & scenery.

These photographs were probably taken for the coronation celebrations. See The Argus 13 May 1937 "Celebrations in Many Country Towns" Ballarat Celebrations BALLARAT Wednesday - Special Coronation celebrations were largely attended In the morning there was a service In Christ Church, at which representatives of the council and other public bodies were present There was a similar gathering in St Andrew's Kirk At a civic service in the Alfred Hall in the afternoon the address was given by the Bishop of Ballarat (the Right Rev W Johnson). Bishop Johnson spoke of the personal association of King George V with his people, and said that the present King and Queen would be equally concerned with the welfare of their subjects The Revs H A Horsfall and B E Williams co-operated In the service, which was presided over by the Mayor (Councillor J Pryor) Mr Lloyd Lindsay recited Mase? Coronation ode and Miss W Ritchie sang "Land of Hope and Glory ' At night a Coronation concert was held in the Alfred Hall.Small black and white photograph showing Sturt Street, Ballarat, and the Burke and Wills Memorial.B249 versomax walters, ballarat, celebrations, sturt street, coronation

Colour cigerette card depicting the discovery of John King, a member of the Burke and Wills Exploration team.king, burke and wills, explorers, john king

Colour photograph of a photograph of Burke and Wills tree, part of display at Ness house Kangaroo Ground 1987r.b ness, historical displays, burke and wills, view hill

Folder of research material compiled by Carol Holsworth. Received at History House in July 2023. Burke and Wills Monument A folder of material relating to the Burke and Wills monument at the Bendigo cemetery including photographs and historical information, The folder also contains information about the Burke and Wills expedition that Carol collected over many years. This material was presented to the Bendigo Historical Society in 2010 after the commemoration events marking the 150th Anniversary Celebration that year.Carol Holsworthbendigo, history, burke and wills monument

The Story of the Burke and Wills expedition, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria 1860-1861 189 pages with photographs and maps.Ron Munroaustralia, history, explorers, australia-history-explorers