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

Small booklet: Sixteen Explorers of Australia. A portrait of Captain Cook on the front page. It was published in March 1965 by the Bank of New South Wales. The booklet has 17 pages. Contents: Preface - Abel Tasman - James Cook - George Bass - Matthew Flinders - Gregory Blaxland - John Oxley - Phillip Parker King - Charles Sturt - Thomas Livingstone Mitchell - Edward John Eyre - Ludwig Leichardt - Augustus Charles Gregory - Edmund Kennedy - Robert O'Hara Burke - John McDouall Stuart - John Forrest.books, biography, explorers of australia

Booklet. 17 page booklet giving one-page stories of exploration of Australia with drawings and maps. Explorers are Abel Tasman, James Cook, George Bass, Matthew Flinders, Gregory Blaxland, John Oxley, Phillip Parker King, Charles Sturt, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Eyre, Ludwig Leichhardt, Augustus Charles Gregory, Edmund Kennedy, Robert O'Hara Burke, John McDouall Stuart, John Forrest. Published by the Bank of NSW and printed by Sydney Allen Printers P/L, Rydalmere, NSW.Bank of NSWhistory, australian, australian explorers, history.

An article from a 'Supplement to Bendigo Advertiser' giving some insights into the history of Tyntyndyer Homestead which is in the Swan Hill district. It gives an insight into the early settlers and their struggles for survival. There is an advertisement within the supplement advertising the 'Historic Tyntyndyer Homestead and Museum.' Coloured and black and white photographs are included in this article which is dated 12/2/1969.history, australian, early farming settlement, lydia chancellor collection, collection, swan hill, aboriginal, aboriginal contact, australia, history, australian history, homesteads, building, house, houses, heritage, tourism, aborigines, settlers, weapons, guns, pastoralists, expedition, john holloway, andrew beveridge, peter beveridge, robert o'hara burke, narrinyeri tribe, bushrangers, relics, national trust, advertisement, exploration

Colour Photograph, An entry in the Bendigo Easter Parade 2004, The Driver is Laurie Jensen, Kay MacGregor is Miss Barbara Rae 'first woman's cricketer', Jim Evans is Sir John Quick, Coral Evans is Lady Quick, Ron Munro is Robert O'Hara Burke, Members of the Bendigo Historical Society, Kay MacGregor, Jim Evans and Coral Evans, and Ron Munro, Markings on photo read 2004/01/01.photograph, portrait, easter parade, easter parade, bendigo historical society, sir john quick, lady quick, miss barbara rae, robert o'hara burke, first woman cricketer

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

Typed notes on an expedition by Army personnel and Richard Zakrzewski to find the grave of William Patton who was buried near the edge of the Bulloo River Overflow east of Tibooburra. He was a member of the Burke and Wills Party. Notes mention planning for the expedition and what they did while they were there. C. E. Burgess WO2, the author of the notes.document, the william patton expedition may 4 - 19 1991, the victoria exploring expedition of the exploration committee of the royal society of victoria, robert o'hara burke, william john wills, ludwig becker, william purcell, charles stone, charles gray, william patton, richard zakrzewski, army survey regiment, burke and wills expedition, lt col van den tol, state library of victoria, land information centre bathurst, capt. coulthard, wo1 slater, wo2 burgess, sgt de grauw, lcpl blake, capt cuskelly, wo1 gillies, ssgt sustart, cpl colde, cpl south, lcpl northausen, spr linwood, wo2 graham, ssgt gowers, sgt marshall, cpl doyle, cfn ellis, spr reynolds, spr hilbig, pte mckersie, 10/27 rsar, clifton downs homestead, gwen smith, william patton memorial

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

"Victoria the Golden" documents life in Victoria between 1850 and 1862 as viewed by artist William Strutt. Momentous events in the Colony’s history such as Separation Day (1 July 1851), the sitting of the first Legislative Council (13 November 1851), the death of Burke (June 1861) and the Black Thursday bushfires (6 February 1851) are depicted. In 1907 the Premier of Victoria Thomas Bent purchased "Victoria the Golden" from Strutt for £120 and presented it to the Library. The album depicts events in chronological order with what Strutt considered “fidelity to nature and accuracy”, so that present day Victorians may view the sketches “as records of what we may now look upon as the dim past in the rapidly progressive history of Victoria”. Victoria the Golden is celebrated as one of the Parliament’s great treasures. It is a testament to William Strutt’s skill as a draughtsman and contains over 100 assorted images which were executed between the years of 1850-1862. Strutt’s particular talent was to be able to step back and record each event with particular care to detail. Many of the pieces contained within this album are littered with notes, such as the correct resting position of a corporal’s sword or details about the cloth and cut of a subject’s jacket. Strutt also notes in one of his many sketches of the new Legislative Council chamber at Spring Street that the President, Sir James Palmer, is seated ‘a little too high’ (page 30). Throughout the album, Strutt’s illustrations bring to life the diverse nature and peoples of the new colony. His range of subjects is comprehensive and includes parliamentarians, lawyers, wives and daughters, merchants, labourers, police and military officers, indigenous communities, farmers, miners, prisoners and explorers. The everyday and the extraordinary are depicted with each turn of the page. 44 leaves heavy card, approximately 1mm thick. Sketches, watercolours and prints of varying sizes and papers are glued onto the pages. Full leather binding in blue leather with title and decorative border in gold. There are four raised bands on the spine, with gold decoration on the bands and at the head and tail of the spine. Marbled end papers and flyleaves. Gold on the edges of the book block. Card pages have a sheet of mottled blue paper on recto. Album leaf connection is a guarded system with stiff stubs and cloth hinges. Each page has a sheet of glassine paper attached at the binding edge to protect the images. Many pages stamped with "Parliament of Victoria" verso. Printed in gold, recto: "VICTORIA THE GOLDEN/ SCENES,/ SKETCHES,/ AND JOTTINGS FROM NATURE./ BY/ Wm. STRUTT/ MELBOURNE, VICTORIA./ 1850-1862" First pages include handwritten 'introductory remarks' and index of plates.parliament of victoria, colony of victoria, separation day, victorian legislative council, burke and wills expedition, wills, william john, 1834-1861, burke, robert o'hara, 1821-1861, strutt, william, 1825-1915, bent, thomas sir, 1838-1909, native police corps, fawkner, john pascoe, 1792-1869, black thursday bushfires, gold rush, princes bridge, melbourne

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