Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition
1860 Art Gallery of South Australia
About this artwork
This large-scale oil painting depicts the commencement of the Burke and Wills expedition from Melbourne, capturing a significant moment in Australian exploration history. The work features a detailed crowd scene observing the departure of the team with their camels and supplies.
Did you know?
This painting commemorates the departure of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first to cross the Australian continent from south to north. Tragically, despite the grand fanfare depicted here, both leaders of the expedition died of starvation during their return journey in 1861, becoming a poignant symbol of the dangers faced by early explorers.
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Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition
Nicholas Chevalier, 1860
