Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt
Captain Charles Napier Sturtwas a British explorer of Australia, and part of the European exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers, establishing that they all merged into the Murray River. He was searching to determine if there was an "inland sea"...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionExplorer
Date of Birth28 April 1795
CountryAustralia
Yet, upon the whole, the space I traversed is unlikely to become the haunt of civilized man, or will only become so in isolated spots, as a chain of connection to a more fertile country; if such a country exist to the westward.
Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude.
The main consideration with those who, possessing some capital, propose to emigrate as the means of improving their condition, is, the society likely to be found in the land fixed on for their future residence.
The staple of our Australian colonies, but more particularly of New South Wales, the climate and the soil of which are peculiarly suited to its production, - is fine wool.
We moved leisurely towards Mount Foster, on the 22nd, and arrived opposite to it a little before sunset.
Farming implements are as cheap in Sydney as in England.
These matters having been arranged, I had a temporary awning erected near the river, and was for three or four days busily employed writing an account of our journey for the Governor's information.
We had not seen any natives for many days, but a few passed the camp on the opposite side of the river on the evening of the 25th. They would not, however, come to us; but fled into the interior in great apparent alarm.
In this eventful period the colony of New South Wales is already far advanced.
I had no inducement to proceed further into the interior. I had been sufficiently disappointed in the termination of this excursion, and the track before me was still less inviting.
The most serious disadvantages under which the colony of New South Wales labours, is in the drought to which it is periodically subject.
The greatest disadvantage under which New South Wales labours, is the want of means for conveying inland produce to the market, or to the coast.