William John Wills

Born in Devon, England, in 1834, William John Wills trained in surveying and developed strong skills in astronomy and navigation before emigrating to Australia. In Victoria he worked as a surveyor, and his precision and endurance earned him a place on the Victorian Exploring Expedition.

Wills is best remembered as second-in-command of the Burke and Wills expedition, the ambitious attempt to cross Australia from south to north in 1860–1861. He kept detailed journals and observations throughout the journey, and those records remain one of the most valuable parts of the expedition's legacy.

After reaching the far north with Robert O'Hara Burke and John King, the party struggled on the return journey through extreme conditions. Wills died in 1861 near Cooper Creek at just 27 years old, but his writings and the enduring fascination with the expedition made him an important figure in Australian exploration history.