John Oxley.
Preface
Matthew Flinders surveyed the north east coast of Australia in 1799 and since that date no further exploration had taken place. In 1823, the Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane instructed the Surveyor-General John Oxley to sail north to report on potential locations for the site of a new penal development.
Oxley left Sydney in October 1823 instructed to examine and report on the suitability of Port Curtis, Moreton Bay, and Port Bowen, as sites for convict settlements. He arrived at Port Curtis on 5 November and after carefully examining it reported against it. He then turned to the south, entered Moreton Bay on 29 November, and three days later discovered the Brisbane River.
He was helped in doing this by two white men who had been wrecked on the coast some months before and were kindly treated by the aborigines. Oxley went some 50 miles up the river, and was much impressed by the country which included the site of Brisbane. As a result of his recommendations a settlement was begun there shortly afterwards.
The information from this title comes from Early Explorers in Australia including the Log-Books and Journals by Ida Lee, first published in 1925. In all cases, the original spelling and grammar of the Original Source Document details from explorer journals are left as is to preserve the authenticity of the information.
Chapter 1 discusses Oxley’s October 1823 voyage and Chapter 2 covers Oxley’s return voyage in September, 1824.
Warning: This title may contain names and images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.
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