Burke and Wills Plant Camp facts for kids

The Burke and Wills Plant Camp is a special historical campsite. It is located near Betoota in Queensland, Australia. This site is also known as Return Camp 46 or Burke and Wills Camp R46. It became a protected heritage site on December 11, 2008.

This camp is important because it is linked to the famous Australian explorers Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills. They were on a very difficult journey across Australia.

What Happened at the Plant Camp?

On April 3, 1861, Burke and Wills were returning from the Gulf of Carpentaria. They were about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of where Birdsville is today. That evening, Wills made his last observations of the stars. He then "planted" or buried his scientific tools and other gear. He likely hid them in a shallow hole near a creek. This spot was called Camp XLVI, or Plant Camp.

The explorers were in a desperate race. They needed to reach their main supply camp, Camp LXV. This camp was the site of the famous Dig Tree. It was close to the border with South Australia.

Who Were Burke and Wills?

Robert O'Hara Burke was born in Ireland in 1821. He had been a soldier and a police officer. Burke was chosen to lead the Victorian Exploring Expedition. He really wanted this important job.

William John Wills was born in England in 1834. He studied medicine and later surveying and astronomy. Wills joined the expedition as the astronomer and surveyor. He was also the third-in-command.

Why Was This Expedition Important?

The Victorian Exploring Expedition was a huge adventure. It was like earlier journeys by explorers such as Edward John Eyre and Ludwig Leichhardt. The main goal was to be the first to cross Australia from south to north. This would make the colony of Victoria even more important.

The expedition was very expensive. Sadly, many lives were lost. But it did achieve its goal. It beat another explorer, John McDouall Stuart, to be the first to cross the continent.

The Journey and Its Challenges

The expedition began on August 20, 1860, in Melbourne. A large crowd cheered the explorers on. The group included fifteen men, twenty-six camels, horses, wagons, and lots of supplies.

Burke wanted to travel quickly and lightly. He started leaving supplies behind early in the journey. He also had disagreements with some of his team. Wills was promoted to second-in-charge.

Problems at Cooper's Creek

Burke was supposed to set up his main base camp at Cooper's Creek. He arrived there on December 6, 1860. He then decided to split his party again. On December 16, he pushed on towards the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Burke, Wills, King, and Gray formed the northern party. Brahe and others were told to wait at Camp LXV for at least three months. They built a timber fence to protect their supplies.

The Return Trip

Burke and his small team reached the Little Bynoe River in February 1861. They were running low on food. They were also worried about meeting the rest of their team back at Cooper's Creek. They tried to reach the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria but turned back.

The journey back from the Gulf was a desperate struggle. They had very little food and their camels were weak. On April 3, 1861, Burke ordered them to leave everything behind except food. Wills then buried his equipment at Camp R46, the Plant Camp.

Gray became very sick during the return journey. He sadly died on April 17.

Missed Chances at the Dig Tree

On April 21, 1861, Brahe and his party left Camp LXV for Menindee. Burke's group arrived at Camp LXV that same evening. They were exhausted and had almost no supplies. Brahe had left messages carved into the Dig Tree. These messages showed where supplies were hidden.

Sadly, Burke's group missed Brahe's messages. A week later, Brahe met Wright's party, who were finally heading to Cooper's Creek. Brahe and Wright returned to Camp LXV. But they saw no sign that Burke had been there. So, they left no new messages and headed south again.

Burke's group tried to travel west to Blanchewater Station. But they had to turn back twice because there was no water. They stayed along Cooper's Creek.

The Tragic End

On May 30, 1861, Wills returned to Camp LXV. He found no sign that Brahe had returned. He put his journals and a new note in the buried supplies. He feared something might happen to them.

The explorers were surviving on a plant called nardoo. But they didn't know how to prepare it properly. This meant it was slowly making them sick. Wills died alone on the banks of Cooper's Creek in late June. He had told his friends to go find help from local Aboriginal people.

A day or two later, Burke also died. He had sent King ahead to look for help. With the help of Aboriginal people, King survived. He was found on September 15, 1861, by a search party led by Alfred William Howitt.

The Search and What We Learned

When people found out the expedition was in trouble, many search parties were sent out. Howitt's party found Wills's remains near Camp LXV. They buried him and marked a tree. Three days later, Howitt found Burke's remains. He was buried under a tree.

The search parties helped map out large parts of inland Australia. This new knowledge helped open up these areas for settlement.

The Official Investigation

An official investigation was held in Melbourne in late 1861. They interviewed thirteen people, including John King, the only survivor. The investigation found that many problems could have been avoided. They said Burke should have kept a regular journal and given written orders to his men.

In 2010, a student named Nick Hadnutt studied the artefacts found at the Plant Camp. His research confirmed that the site was indeed Burke and Wills Camp 46R.

What the Plant Camp Looks Like Today

Boundary map, 2015

The Burke and Wills Plant Camp is on an unnamed creek. It is about a two-hour drive north of Birdsville. The site has two main parts. Most of the old European items found are near where the creek ends at a claypan. These items are often found on higher ground. They are usually close to the surface of the soil.

Many items have been found here. These include needles for sewing leather, parts of tools, and bullets. These items match the list of supplies the expedition carried.

There are also two scarred trees about 2 to 2.7 kilometres (1.2 to 1.7 miles) east of the main area. We don't know for sure how these scars were made. But they might be "blazes" or marks left by the expedition. These marks would have shown the camp's location to other explorers or rescuers.

Sadly, some people have dug up items at the site without care. This removes them from their original place. This makes it harder for experts to learn important information about the expedition.

Why the Plant Camp is Important

The Burke and Wills "Plant Camp" is a protected heritage site. It shows how much people in the 1800s were interested in exploring. The expedition and the search parties helped open up Queensland and other parts of Australia for farming and settlement.

The Plant Camp is a real reminder of the past. It gives us physical proof of the first overland crossing of Australia from south to north. This journey covered about 2,800 kilometres (1,740 miles). This camp was the last one where the explorers decided to leave most of their equipment behind.

The site might still hold more hidden items. These could include Wills's buried astronomical tools. They could also include other items Burke ordered them to leave. Finding these items could help us understand more about the expedition. For example, it could show why they kept some scientific tools but left more useful items.

Studying the Plant Camp can help us learn more about the final days of the Burke and Wills expedition. It can help us understand the difficulties they faced. It also has a special link to Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, who both died on this journey.