Part 1 (1/2)

Journals of Australian Explorations

by A C and F T Gregory

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATIONS

MESSRS GREGORY'S EXPEDITION TO THE EAST AND NORTH OF SWAN RIVER

1846

EARLY CONDITION OF WEST AUSTRALIA

The colony of Western Australia was established in 1829; but its isolation from the older settlement of New South Wales rendered it necessary to i vessels from Tasmania, or other remote sources, while the heavy losses and difficulties attending long sea voyages prevented any large ih there was a fair rate of increase, the flocks and herds of the settlers had found sufficient pasturage for the first ten years on the banks of the Swan River and its upper valley, the Avon, together with the coast district southward to the Vasse Inlet; but after 1840 the stock-owners began to feel that all prospect of material increase must be relinquished unless additional pastures could be discovered

Several public as well as private expeditions were undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining whether in the interior or along the coast on either side of the settlement there existed any available country, but they had only encountered dense scrubs of acacia and eucalyptus, with salt marshes and scarcity of fresh water in the interior The coast to the east had been traversed froe's Sound by Mr

Eyre, and found to be altogether unfit for settlement, while to the north the coast presented a series of sandy plains for more than 200 miles

It may now appear extraordinary that the earlier explorers in Australia were so frequently unsuccessful in their endeavours to penetrate the interior; but the scarcity of suitable horses, the unsuitable character of the saddlery, cu the seasons in the interior, all combined to defeat the first explorers in districts which have since been traversed with comparative facility

In 1846 the known country had become so nearly stocked to the full extent of its capability that the leading question of interest with the settlers here new runs could be discovered; and, aory proposed to attempt the further exploration of the interior

Messrs AC and FT Gregory, ere attached to the department of the Surveyor-General, applied for three months' leave of absence for the purpose; but it was eventually arranged that the expedition should be under the auspices of the Government, which provided four horses, and voted 5 pounds for the purchase of equip supplied at private expense

The party consisted of AC Gregory, FT Gregory, and HC Gregory, provided with four horses and seven weeks' provisions, the equip point was Mr

TN Yule's station, in the Toodyay district, sixtyis a transcript of the journal:--

EXPLORATION TO EAST OF SWAN RIVER, 1846

DIARY

7th August, 1846

Leaving Mr Yule's farart Spring at 1015 arees east over sandy downs, thinly timbered with eucalyptus; at 1250 p in the direction of our course till 2 pht on a s to the south-west

Latitude by observation 31 degrees 12 rees 50 ust