Journal of Landsborough's expedition from Carpentaria, in search of Burke & Wills

Set against the frantic search for the lost Burke and Wills, this firsthand journal follows the Brisbane‑based party led by W. Landsborough as it departs Melbourne, sails on the brig Firefly, and battles the tropical seas of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The entries capture the harsh realities of 19th‑century exploration: exhausted horses thirsting for water, sudden gales that drive ships onto hidden reefs, and the constant tension between hope and danger. Readers also glimpse the logistics of colonial coordination, from the steamship Victoria’s support to the hurried loading of supplies at Moreton Bay.

In the opening act, Landsborough’s letters read like a weather‑worn logbook, noting daily observations of wind, tide, and the fragile condition of the expedition’s animals. He writes with blunt honesty about a horse that could not stand after a storm‑tossed landing, and the frantic effort to save the remaining stock. The narrative’s vivid detail immerses listeners in the cramped decks, the smell of dry forage, and the tentative optimism that each successful sail brings a step closer to the missing explorers.