The 1813 Blue Mountains intersection is an expedition led by Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth, who became the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales by European settlers. The crossing allowed settlers to access and use the land in the western mountains to farm, and allowed the establishment of Australia's first inland settlement at Bathurst.
Video 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains
​​â € <â €
The European settlement at Sydney Cove, founded in 1788 after the arrival of the First Fleet, grew rapidly. In the early 19th century, the Blue Mountains had become a barrier to the expansion of the colony, which required more agricultural land to meet its needs, especially after the dry season of 1812 and 1813. Local indigenous peoples knew at least two routes in which to cross the mountain. The first is along Bilpin Ridge, followed by Archibald Bell with the help of the local Darugs (now the Bells Line of Road), and the second along the Coxs River. Until 1813, however, the settlers remained unaware of how to cross the mountain despite several attempts, including two by Blaxland himself. In early 1813 Blaxland, who wanted more grazing lands, gained approval from Governor Lachlan Macquarie and approached Lawson and Wentworth to secure their participation in a new exploration expedition after the mountains.
Maps 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains
Crossing
Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson led an expedition party, including four waiters, four packing horses and five dogs. Two of the four people helping the party have been identified as James Burne (or Burnes), a guide and a kangaroo hunter, and Samuel Fairs, a prisoner who arrived in Australia in 1810. Two others, also considered inmates, remain unidentified.
The party departs from Blaxland's South Creek farm near the modern suburb of St Marys in western Sydney, on May 11, 1813 and across the Nepean River later on. They walked on a mountain, followed the mountains, and completed the crossing in 21 days. The success of the explorers has been attributed to their methodical approach and the decision to travel in the mountains instead of through the valleys. The three explorers and their two maids would leave each day, leaving the other two at their campsite, marking the trail, before returning later in the day to cut the way for the horses and allowing the rest of the party to advance.
The party first saw the plains behind the mountains from Mount York. They proceeded to Mount Blaxland 25 km south of the Lithgow site, on the western side of the mountains. From this point Blaxland states that there is enough forest or grassland "to support the stock of the colony for thirty years", while Lawson calls it "the best watering country I have ever seen in the Colony". The party then turned around, making the journey home in six days.
Journals
The three explorers wrote a report about their expedition. Blaxland is the only one who publishes his account, Journal of the Invention Tour Throughout the Blue Mountains , which he did in 1823 during a return visit to England. The journal, written for the third person, records their progress in detail, including their reasons for believing that they have achieved their goals and resolved to return:
Wentworth's journal shows the impression of his inspiration about the landscape:
Lawson, as a trained surveyor, keeps a detailed record of the route itself including daily distance, as well as the impression of the landscape. He noted on May 22:
After that
In recognition of the success of the crossing, the three explorers were awarded by Macquarie with a 1000 acre grant of land in the western mountains. Blaxland later claimed to have led an expedition, but notes from time of crossing imply that they are joint leaders.
Surveyor-General George William Evans was sent by Macquarie in November 1813 to follow the path taken and travel further to determine the best route to access fertile farmland. Evans continues through Mount Blaxland to the Macquarie River and Lachlan and modern Bathurst sites. Upon his return, he was rewarded with 1,000 acres of land in Tasmania. Macquarie then commissioned William Cox in July 1814 to build the road, following the path taken by the three explorers and expanded by Evans. Cox convicted worker team completed the work in six months and Cox was awarded by Macquarie with a 2,000-hectare land grant near the location chosen by Macquarie to Bathurst. Macquarie traveled along a new street, calling it the Great West Street, in 1815. Artist John Lewin accompanied Macquarie on tour.
The colonial expansion into the land of the Wiradjui state, west of the Blue Mountains, led to the Bathurst war.
Warning
Crossroads and the three explorers have been celebrated in various ways, including:
- Some warnings for explorers have been established along the route they follow.
- Events to mark the hundredth anniversary include lunch at Mount Victoria.
- Frank Walker, President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, published a compilation of articles on crossings and photographs of the Blue Mountains in time for a hundred years
- Three suburbs in the Blue Mountains are named after the explorers: Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth Falls.
- Three Federal voters named after explorers: Blaxland Division, Lawson Division (abolished in 1968), and Wentworth Division.
- For the 150th anniversary, the 1963 stamp displays an expedition image.
- The event to mark the 2nd century anniversary in 2013 includes Blue Mountains Blue Wave runs following the route taken by expeditions, a flyover involving 70 aircraft, silver coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint, and a drama performance written by Blaxland descendants.
It has been claimed that Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson may have carved their initials into a tree now called the Explorers tree, which is located about 5 kilometers west of Katoomba. This claim is not universally supported and the tree is not mentioned specifically in journals that are kept by explorers, although they mark the trees to record their routes.
Location
- South Creek Farm - 33.805847 Â ° S 150.765587 Â ° E < span>/ -33.805847; 150,765,587 ( South Creek Farm )
- Caley Repulse 33,71795 Â ° S 150,49513 Â E / -33.71795; 150.49513 ( Repulse Caley )
- Mount York - 33,5533 Â ° S 150,21966 Â E < span>/
-33,5533; 150.21966 ( Mount York ) - Mount Blaxland - 33,54750 Â ° S 150,10556 Â E < span>/
-33,54750; 150.10556 splitting Mount Blaxland - Sugarloaf Wentworth - 33,54250 Â ° S 150,10833 Â E < span>/
-33,54250; 150.10833 ( Sugarloaf Wentworth ) - Sugarloaf Wentworth - 33,54250 Â ° S 150,10833 Â E < span>/
- Sugarloaf Lawson - 33,54083 Â ° S 150,11000 Â E < span>/
-33,54083; 150.11000 ( Sugarloaf Lawson )
See also
- European exploration of Australia
- New South Wales history
- Australian prehistory
- The Bathurst War
References
External links
- Blaxland Journal - record in NSW State Library
- Images of Blaxland journals from published journals (1870) - in the NSW State Library
- Blaxland Journal (digitized) at the University of Sydney
- Blaxland Journal (digitized) at the University of Adelaide
- Lawson Journal (original) (digitized) in NSW State Library
- Lawson Journal (html) (digitized) in Gutenberg
- Wentworth Journal (digitized) in NSW State Library
- Journal of Gregory Blaxland, edited by Frank Walker in 1913 at Project Gutenberg Australia
- Blue Mountains Blue Wave "Celebration of Mountain Life" 200th Bicentenary Celebration
- Blue Mountains Local History blog
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments