Journal of the North Australian Exploring Expedition . [An extract from] Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Volume 28, 1858

GREGORY, Augustus C.

Published by John Murray, [London, 1858

About this Item

[London, John Murray, 1858]. Octavo, 137 pages plus a large folding map (200 x 615 mm, with contemporary hand-colouring to the route). Later quarter roan and cloth; spine a little worn, cloth slightly flecked; additional manuscript title page; final leaf has had the (unrelated) bottom third removed before being mounted on a full-length binder's blank (and in the process, a little excess glue has caused adhesion damage - with slight loss - to four lines on the facing page and one line on its recto); overall, a very good copy, with the armorial bookplate of Charles Glover. The complete journal of Gregory's 1855-56 exploring expedition through northern Australia. 'With eighteen men, including his brother Henry, Ferdinand von Mueller and other scientists he sailed from Moreton Bay in August 1855 and in September reached the estuary of the Victoria River. After initial set-backs Gregory led several forays up the Victoria River and traced Sturt's Creek for 300 miles (483 km) until it disappeared in desert. Turning east the party explored the Elsey, Roper and Macarthur Rivers, crossed and named the Leichhardt and then travelled to Brisbane by way of the Flinders, Burdekin, Fitzroy and Burnett Rivers. In sixteen months the expedition had journeyed over 2000 miles (3219 km) by sea and 5000 (8047 km) by land. The natural resources discovered did not measure up to expectations, but Gregory was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society and his report later stimulated much pastoral settlement' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). The account concludes with a three-page 'Report on the Health of the North Australian Expedition' by the surgeon, J.R. Elsey. McLaren 9335.

Seller Inventory # 59967

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Journal of the North Australian Exploring Expedition . [An extract from] Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Volume 28, 1858
• Publisher: John Murray, [London
• Publication Date: 1858
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Exploration
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia