Not Just Ned: A true history of the Irish in An exhibition developed and presented by the National Museum of Australia

OBJECT BIOGRAPHY

Robert O’Hara Burke

The Victorian Exploring Expedition remains one of the most celebrated journeys of the 'heroic era' of Australian land exploration. The huge expedition, led by Irishman Robert O'Hara Burke and carrying some 21 tonnes of equipment, left on 20 August, 1860. It was farewelled by 15,000 Victorians to the tune of ‘Cheer, boys, cheer’. Its purpose was to ensure that men from would be the first to make the crossing of the continent.

This momentous occasion was captured by the artist Nicholas Chevalier in his painting ‘Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition’ which shows Burke leading the way on his horse, waving to the Irish-born mayor of Melbourne, Dr Richard Eades. The painting will feature in the upcoming exhibition Not Just Ned: A true history of the Irish in Australia at the National Museum of Australia.

Only four men of the Victorian Exploring Expedition; Burke, , and Charles Gray made the 5,000 kilometre journey from

Depot Camp at to the . Gray died on the return a few days before arriving at the Cooper depot on 21 April 1861.

Expecting to find the depot occupied, the three men discovered the party had left that very day. Burke and Wills subsequently died and King was cared for by the

Yandruwandha people ‘as one of their own’ and he owed his survival to them. Nicholas Chevalier, Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition, 1860, Art Gallery of . Chevalier’s painting will be Several relief expeditions were sent out to try to find displayed alongside other objects associated with the Burke and Wills Expedition in the Burke and his three companions. It was a party led by exhibition Not Just Ned: A true history of the Irish in Australia at the National Museum of Alfred Howitt that found the only survivor, John King. Australia in Canberra

Howitt returned to the Cooper in 1862 to retrieve the remains of Burke and Wills. It was on this occasion that Howitt took three breastplates, along with other presents, to give to the Aboriginal people, the Yandruwandha who looked after King. One of those breastplates will also be displayed in the exhibition along with Burke’s pistol.

The Burke and Wills expedition showed great courage and determination, but ultimately failed. Perhaps for this reason, this story of extraordinary endurance and ultimate tragedy holds a central place in Australian mythology.

Not Just Ned: A true history of the Irish in Australia is on show at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra from 17 March-31 July 2011. Admission charges apply. For more information about the exhibition visit www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/irish_in_australia/

Curator’s notes prepared by Rebecca Nason, Curator, National Museum of Australia

The National Museum of Australia is an Australian Government Agency