Jardine’s Journal - Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York - First Facsimile Issue 1994

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Jardine’s Journal – Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York – First Facsimile Issue 1994

Short Description

Originally published by J.W. Buxton, Brisbane in 1867. Compiled from the Journals of the Brothers, and edited by Frederick Byerley, Engineer of Roads, Northern Division of Queensland.

This is the first and preferred Corkwood Press (Bundaberg) facsimile of 1994 of the near impossible to get 1867 Brisbane original. Very good condition … Manfred Cross’s copy

Includes a facsimile of the map published with that original account.

Voyager Background Note

In 1863 it was decided by Governor Bowen that a settlement should be established at the tip of Cape York at Albany. He selected John Jardine a magistrate at Rockhampton for the task who in turn thought that his sons Frank (22) and Alexander (20) could make their way overland with a mob of cattle. They put together a party and set off in May 1864. There were ten in all including six aborigines. They all convened at Carpentaria Downs the property of J.G. McDonald beyond here the country was basically unknown. It was not until October that they finally set off with a mob of 250 head and 42 horses. They were well armed. They moved North West along the Einasleigh River and were soon followed by native aborigines in war paint but were not attacked – at this point. They reached Parallel Creek and found evidence of cannibalism in an abandoned fire. The landscape softened from large granite boulders to flat sandy beds. They reached 120 miles and decided to rest a few days and it was observed that the forage was good and the cattle and horses improved. They moved on and crossed and later named the Byerley Creek. A fire demolished their camp and much of their supplies were lost. They made on to Staaten River (named by the Dutch during their early marine explorations) and then on to find the Mitchell River having been lost a number of times. On 20th November 1864 the first fight with the aborigines took place on a river bank and several aborigines were wounded or killed but none of the Jardine party. A number of encounters followed and they decided to move on North. Eventually they found the Mitchell which was the site of their bloodiest encounter with up to 30 aborigines killed or wounded before they retreated. As they moved into December storms rolled in and the journey became difficult – they had to resort to killing their cattle as supplies ran out. They moved quickly noting beautiful grazing country in the region of the Archer River. On 11th January 1865 they reached the Batavia River where several of their horses died from eating poisonous plants. They pushed on as hard as they could and sent a scouting party out on 30th January 1865 to find their destination estimated to be 25 miles distant but were unsuccessful. The terrain was difficult steep hills and gullies crossed by narrow deep creeks overgrown by dense tropical vegetation. It was not until 1st March 1865 that the party heard the yelling of scouts sent out from the settlement to find them – just in time. Their journal records that a camp was made at Vallack Point and “there the weary cattle and horses at last found rest, while their drivers were able to indulge in the luxuries of regular feeding and uninterrupted sleep”

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