Map to Illustrate The Report of an expedition into The interior of Western Australia, in 1854 By Robert Austin Assistant Surveyor.

Rare map recording Robert Austin’s expedition in 1854 which explored the large lakes inland from Geraldton known as “Cow-Cow-ing“, before heading north through the interior, where Mount Magnet was discovered and named. They intended to reach the coast at Shark Bay, but were driven back by heat, fatigue, lack of water, and the loss of a number of their horses at Poison Rock. They were eventually forced to return to the coast along the Murchison River. The expedition reported large areas of land that were potentially gold-bearing, but nothing suitable for pastoral settlement. 

Sir,—I have the honour to submit, for your examination and approval, and for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the following Report, briefly explaining the operations of the Expedition to Shark Bay; and advertising to the geological structure, natural productions, water-parting, and general character of the interior of this colony to the N. and E. of the settled districts, and towards the Gascoigne River, described in the accompanying maps and journals, and explored by the party under my command, in pursuance of instructions received, by direction of His Excellency, from the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, dated 14th June, 1854, detailing the objects the Government had in view in despatching the Expedition, pointing out the course proposed for their attainment, and leaving me at liberty to pursue a different route, if I saw a corresponding advantage likely to accrue from any deviation therefrom; provided I formed my plan subject to reaching the mouth of the Gascoigne, if possible, to meet the ship there at the appointed time.

July 1854 -The exploring party, under my command, consisted of ten men with twenty-seven horses, with one hundred and twenty days’ provisions, accompanied by Mr. Woodward, who placed himself, with Mr. Chidlow’s team, escorted by two men, for whom he brought forty days’ rations, under my orders, to proceed to Cow-cowing, and convey my report of that country to head-quarters. We left Mombekine, 14 m. N.E. by N. from Northam, on the 10th July, and proceeded by way of Youlanging, where we crossed the Salt River; travelling on a course N. 60° E., through gum-forests and sand-plains 15 m., to Goomalling, a spring and streamlet, at the S. end of a belt of granite country about 5 m. long and 3 m. wide, trending N., containing eight thousand acres of second-rate land, suitable for a horse run, watered by several streams flowing into the tributary plains of the Mortlock, or Salt River, and surrounded by scrubby sand-plains.

Collections:
National Library of Australia: ID 48088385