Biographical entry: Wills, William John (1834 - 1861)

Born

1834

Died

1861

Summary

Papers 1839-1863. Wills emigrated to Australia in 1852. In 1860 he was appointed astronomer and surveyor with an expedition led by Robert O'Hara Burke to explore Central Australia. With Burke and two others they halted just short of the Gulf of Carpentaria on 12 February 1861, but both Burke and Wills perished on the return journey to Adelaide.

Diary of Wills' journey to Australia, 1 October 1852-3 January 1853.

Letters to members of his family 1852-1861, describing his journey to Australia, also descriptions of Melbourne, the Australian countryside, shepherding work on a station near Deniliquin, his work at the observatory on Flagstaff Hill Melbourne, his life in Melbourne and the expedition to northern Australia, 1860-1861.

Extracts from Melbourne and London newspapers, concerning the expedition and the deaths and funeral of Burke and Wills.

Letters to Wills' father, William Wills, 1839, 1840, two items. Microfilm, one negative reel. Original held State Library of Victoria. National Library of Australia G14, 542.