John Oxley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley
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John Oxley, 1810
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| Born | 1784 Kirkham Abbey, Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 1828 (aged 43–44) Camden, New South Wales, Australia
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| Years active | 1799−1824 |
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (born in 1784 – died on 25 May 1828) was an important English explorer and surveyor. He played a big role in the early days of British settlement in Australia. He was the Surveyor General of New South Wales. Oxley is famous for his journeys into the middle of New South Wales. He also explored the Tweed River and the Brisbane River in what is now Queensland.
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Who Was John Oxley?
John Oxley was born in 1784 in Yorkshire, England. His birthplace was near Kirkham Abbey. He was the oldest of eight children in his family. John was a Protestant, which means he followed a certain branch of Christianity.
When John Oxley was 15, in 1799, he joined the Royal Navy. He started as a midshipman on a ship called HMS Venerable. In 1802, he sailed to Australia on another naval ship, HMS Buffalo. His job involved mapping parts of the coast, like Western Port.
He spent five years in the Australian colonies. In 1805, he became an acting lieutenant. He even traveled to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) in charge of a ship called the Estramina.
After returning to England, he came back to New South Wales in 1808. He was the first lieutenant of HMS Porpoise. During this time, he became interested in becoming a Naval Officer or a Surveyor-General. He left the Navy in 1811.
Becoming a Surveyor General
In 1812, John Oxley became the Surveyor General of New South Wales. This was a very important job! He arrived in Sydney during the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Governor Macquarie was keen on exploring new lands. He wanted to know more about the areas beyond the Blue Mountains.
Rivers like the Lachlan River and Macquarie River flowed west, which was a mystery. People wondered where they led. Governor Macquarie asked John Oxley to lead two big expeditions to explore these rivers. Oxley believed these rivers might lead to a huge inland sea.
Exploring the Lachlan River (1817)
In April 1817, Oxley began his first major expedition. He aimed to explore the Lachlan River. His team included George Evans and botanist Allan Cunningham. They started near Bathurst.
As they followed the river west, the land became very wet and marshy. They found it hard to move forward. Oxley thought the area was too swampy to live in. He believed the river ended in a huge inland swamp, perhaps even a shallow inland sea.
Because of the difficult terrain and lack of fresh water, they had to turn back. They returned to Bathurst in August 1817. This journey helped shape the idea that Australia's interior was a vast, watery marsh.
Discovering the Macquarie River (1818)
Even though the Lachlan expedition was tough, Oxley soon led another journey. In May 1818, he set out to explore the Macquarie River. His team included George Evans and botanist Charles Frazer. They also had twelve men who were serving sentences for breaking the law.
They followed the Macquarie River, which also led them to wide, marshy areas. Oxley again thought he was at the edge of an inland sea. From there, they turned northeast. They discovered beautiful, fertile lands like the Liverpool Plains.
They also found the Peel River and the Hastings River. Following the Hastings River, they reached the coast. Here, Oxley discovered a new harbor, which he named Port Macquarie. This discovery was a big boost for the colony. Governor Macquarie was so pleased that he granted pardons to the twelve men who had helped on the expedition.
Exploring Shoalhaven and Jervis Bay (1819)
In late 1819, Oxley explored the Shoalhaven River area. He traveled by sea, while another surveyor, James Meehan, went by land. Oxley reported that the soils around Shoalhaven were good for farming. This made people more interested in settling there.
However, his report on the western side of Jervis Bay was not as positive. He described it as a very difficult and barren place.
Finding the Brisbane River (1823)
In 1823, Governor Brisbane asked Oxley to find a good spot for a new settlement for people who had broken the law. Oxley sailed north along the coast. He was very impressed by the Tweed River and its beautiful valley.
He then entered Moreton Bay. There, he met two men who had been shipwrecked and were living with the local Aboriginal people. With their help, Oxley was shown a large river. He named it the Brisbane River. Oxley recommended this area for the new settlement. This place later grew into the city of Brisbane. A monument was built in 1924 at North Quay to remember his landing there.
In 1824, Oxley returned to the Brisbane River with botanist Allan Cunningham. They explored further up the river and found the Bremer River.
John Oxley's Family Life
John Oxley was a Protestant and supported both the Anglican and Presbyterian churches. Governor Macquarie gave Oxley land near Camden, which he named Kirkham. Oxley raised sheep there and also owned a house in Sydney.
In October 1821, Oxley married Emma Norton. They had a daughter and two sons. Their elder son, John Norton Oxley, later became a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Their younger son, Henry Oxley, also became a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
Oxley often faced health problems because of his difficult expeditions. He passed away at his Kirkham property on 25 May 1828, at the age of 44. Many important people attended his funeral in Sydney.
Last Years and Legacy
John Oxley's explorations were very important for understanding Australia's geography. Many places and things are named after him to honor his contributions.
Places Named After John Oxley
- Several electoral districts in New South Wales and Queensland.
- The suburbs of Oxley (ACT) and Oxley (Queensland).
- Roads like Oxley Road in Brisbane and Oxley Avenue in Redcliffe.
- Oxley College (Burradoo) in New South Wales.
- The John Oxley Library, which is part of the State Library of Queensland.
- John Oxley Youth Detention Centre.
- The town of Oxley and suburbs like Oxley Park.
- Oxley Creek in Queensland.
- Oxley High School in Tamworth.
- Oxley Highway in New South Wales.
- Oxley Island and Oxley River in New South Wales.
- Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
Ships Named After John Oxley
- The SS John Oxley, a steamship built in 1927.
- Two submarines, HMAS Oxley (launched 1926) and HMAS Oxley (S 57) (launched 1965).
See also
In Spanish: John Oxley para niños
