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Early edition of this interesting map of Southern Australia published by W & A.K Johnston in about 1860.
This map highlights the explorations of South Australia and central Australia, including those of Charles Sturt and A.C. Gregory, which played a significant role in shaping the Australian continent.
One of the most significant geographical discoveries of this period was the exploration of the Murray-Darling river system in South Australia. Charles Sturt, a British explorer, led several expeditions to the interior of Australia, and his discoveries had a profound impact on the development of South Australia. In particular, his discovery of the Murray-Darling river system in 1844 paved the way for the establishment of new settlements and agricultural industries in the region.
Sturt's explorations also led to the discovery of Lake Eyre, Australia's largest inland lake, in 1844. This discovery was significant because it highlighted the diversity of Australia's landscapes, and the potential for the development of new industries such as mining and tourism. Sturt's explorations also helped to dispel the myth of the "great inland sea" that had been believed to exist in the interior of Australia, and opened up new possibilities for exploration and settlement.
Another British explorer, Sir Augustus Charles Gregory, led several expeditions to central Australia, which resulted in the discovery of several new rivers and the exploration of vast tracts of previously unexplored territory. Gregory's explorations were significant because they helped to expand our understanding of the geography and geology of central Australia, and paved the way for the development of new industries such as mining and pastoralism.
Gregory's most significant discovery was the Victoria River in northern Australia, which he explored in 1855. The Victoria River was the first major river discovered in northern Australia, and it played a significant role in the development of the pastoral industry in the region. The discovery of the Victoria River also led to the exploration of other rivers in the area, such as the Fitzroy River in Western Australia, which further expanded our understanding of the geography and geology of northern Australia.
In September 1857, Gregory was hired by the government of New South Wales to search for traces of Ludwig Leichhardt, a fellow explorer who had disappeared on an earlier expedition. The results of his explorations, beginning in March 1858, are shown in the Thomson River region here.
The present state of the map is quite early, pre-dating the expedition of Burke, Wills, King and Greay across the continent in 1860-61.
