Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior
of New South Wales

INTRODUCTION.
Part I
Part II

Part I.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY LACHLAN MACQUARIE, ESQ. MAJOR GENERAL IN THE ARMY, AND CAPTAIN
GENERAL AND GOVERNOR IN CHIEF IN AND OVER THE TERRITORY OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND ITS
DEPENDENCIES, THE FOLLOWING JOURNAL OF AN EXPEDITION, PERFORMED UNDER HIS
ADMINISTRATION AND DIRECTION, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS VERY OBEDIENT HUMBLE
SERVANT, JOHN OXLEY.

INTRODUCTION.

The colony had been established many years before any successful attempt had been made to penetrate into the interior of the
country, by crossing the range of hills, known to the colonists as the Blue Mountains: these mountains were considered as the
boundary of the settlements westward, the country beyond them being deemed inaccessible.

The year 1813 proving extremely dry, the grass was nearly all destroyed, and the water failed; the horned cattle suffered
severely from this drought, and died in great numbers. It was at this period that three gentlemen, Lieutenant Lawson, of the
Royal Veteran Company, Messrs. Blaxland, and William Wentworth, determined upon attempting a passage across these
mountains, in hopes of finding a country which would afford support to their herds during this trying season.

They crossed the Nepean River at Emu Plains, and ascending the first range of mountains, were entangled among gullies and
deep ravines for a considerable time, insomuch that they began to despair of ultimate success. At length they were fortunate
enough to find a main dividing range, along the ridge of which they travelled, observing that it led them westward. After
suffering many hardships, their distinguished perseverance was at length rewarded by the view of a country, which at first
sight promised them all they could wish.

Into this Land of Promise they descended by a steep mountain, which Governor Macquarie has since named Mount York
[Note: This mountain was found to be 795 feet in perpendicular height above the vale of Clwydd.]. The valley [Note: Named
by Governor Macquarie the Vale of Clwydd.] to which it gave them access was covered with grass, and well watered by a
small stream running easterly, and which was subsequently found to fall into the Nepean River. From Mount York they
proceeded westerly eight or ten miles, passing during the latter part of the way through an open country, but broken into steep
hills. Seeing that the stream before mentioned as watering the valley ran easterly, it was evident they had not yet crossed the
ranges which it was supposed would give source to waters falling westerly; they had however proceeded sufficiently far for
their purpose, and ascertained that no serious obstacles existed to a farther progress westward.

Their provisions being nearly expended, they returned to Sydney, after an absence of little more than a month; and the report
of their discoveries opened new prospects to the colonists, who had began to fear that their narrow and confined limits would
not long afford pasture and subsistence for their greatly increasing flocks and herds.

His Excellency Governor Macquarie, with that promptitude which distinguishes his character, resolved not to let slip so
favourable an opportunity of obtaining a farther knowledge of the interior. Mr. Evans, the deputy surveyor, was directed to
proceed With a party, and follow up the discoveries already made. He crossed the Nepean River on the 20th of November,
1813, and on the 26th arrived at the termination of Messrs. Lawson, Blaxland, and Wentworth's journey. Proceeding westward,
he crossed a mountainous [Note: Since named Clarence Hilly Range.] broken country, the grass of which was good, and the
valleys well-watered, until the 30th, when he came to a small stream, running westerly; this stream, called by him the Fish
River, he continued to trace until the 7th of December, passing through a very fine country, adapted to every purpose either of
agriculture or grazing; when he met another stream coming from the southward: this latter stream he named Campbell River,
and when joined with the Fish River, the united streams received the name of the Macquarie River, in honour of his excellency
the present governor of New South Wales.

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