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Australia and its People › History
What is the significance of the explorers Burke and Wills?
- They were the first Europeans to explore the Australian coastline by sea
- They were the first Europeans to successfully cross Australia from south to north and return safely
- They were the first Europeans to attempt a crossing of the Australian continent from south to north but both died on the return journey in 1861
Why this is the correct answer
In 1860 and 1861, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led the first European expedition to attempt a south-to-north crossing of the Australian continent. They succeeded in reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria but both died on the return journey due to starvation and harsh conditions. Their ill-fated journey became one of the most dramatic episodes in Australian exploration history.