Party: Landsborough, William (1825 - 1886)
- From
- 1825
- To
- 1886
Summary
Papers 1861-1866. Scottish born explorer, pastoralist and civil servant. Arrived New South Wales 1841, led three major exploration expeditions in Queensland 1859-1886, including a search for Burke and Wills, during which Landsborough successfully crossed the continent from north to south. His enthusiasm for the north-western Queensland country in the 1860s promoted rapid settlement in this region. He became a partner in the pastoral company Scottish Australia which established Bowen Downs in 1861, from whence it expanded broadly to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Landsborough served in the Legislative Council 1865, and was government resident in the District of Burke 1865-1870 when he was dismissed for alleged incompetence. In 1872 he moved to southern Queensland, and died in Brisbane in 1886. Notebooks of the exploration expeditions in Queensland and the Northern Territory, plus typescript copies of manuscripts. Contains a quantity of detail not included in the printed version of Landsborough's journals. Copy of originals held Mitchell Library. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)