Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth
A National Library of Australia Travelling Exhibition
Australia’s most enduring story revealed at the Art Gallery of SA
Opens Saturday 22 June 2002
On 20 August 1860, 19 men, 23 horses and 26 camels left Melbourne under the command of Robert O’Hara Burke, a rural police officer, charged with crossing the continent from South to North. The lead party, which included William John Wills, a doctor and surveyor, succeeded in reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria on 11 February 1861, but only one man returned.
The story and legends surrounding this doomed expedition have become part of Australia’s mythology, known by almost every Australian, although very little material related to it has ever been displayed.
Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth, curated by Professor Tim Bonyhady, is the first major exhibition about this legendary and ill-fated expedition and examines Burke and Wills’ place in Australian culture from the 1860s to the present, revealing how one of Australia’s most enduring stories has grown and changed.
Drawing on art and artefacts from a large number of institutions and private collections, the exhibition includes the most interesting artworks, relics, scientific specimens, letters and journals produced before, during and after the doomed journey.
It contains remarkable Aboriginal and European art and artefacts including:
- Paintings produced on the expedition by the renowned 19th century artist, Ludwig Becker, who died during the journey
- Sir Sidney Nolan’s original series of Burke and Wills paintings produced in 1948-50
- The notes and diaries written by Burke and Wills leading up to their deaths
- The famous portrait of Burke by William Strutt, Australia’s finest figure painter of the 19th century
- Works by contemporary artist Antony Hamilton and photographer Jon Rhodes
- The earliest preserved example of Aboriginal food – the nardoo cake – made from a type of native grass seed
- A letter from ‘Cupid’ – most likely the comic actress Julia Mathews – to Burke; and the ‘love glove’ reputedly given by Mathews to Wills before the expedition started (she is said to have given its pair to Burke)
- The original public notice announcing the discovery of Burke and Wills’ remains dated 3 November 1861
- Rare maps from the expedition
- A lock of Burke’s hair, his whip and Colt revolver
- The jaw of the explorers’ second last camel, and one of the hooves of Billy, their last horse.
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The curator, Professor Tim Bonyhady from the Australian National University, is one of Australia’s leading art historians and environmental lawyers. His 1991 book about Burke and Wills received widespread acclaim and his catalogue of the exhibition includes new insights into the art inspired by the expedition.
Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth is a National Library of Australia travelling exhibition in association with the State Library of Victoria.
The exhibition is generously supported by Principal National Sponsor AAMI and Principal South Australian Sponsor Santos.
Media enquiries:
Kate Jordan-Moore, Marketing and Public Relations Manager,
Art Gallery of South Australia
08 8207 7021 or 0419 803 507.
Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth
22 June – 18 August
Art Gallery of South Australia
North Terrace, Adelaide
10 am – 5 pm daily
Admission fees:
$10
$8 concession
$6 members
$4 students
free admission for children under 16
Guided tours
The volunteer Gallery Guides lead tours of the exhibition each Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Free with exhibition entry.
NORTH TERRACE ADELAIDE SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000 TELEPHONE (08) 8207 7000 FACSIMILE (08) 8207 7070