Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson, and William Wentworth led an expedition in 1813 to find a way across the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, as the growing colony needed more land. They brought supplies for six weeks and cut their way through thick bushland. It was difficult work with dangers like slippery terrain. After finding grass and water, they saw good grazing lands beyond the mountains. Their successful crossing opened new areas for settlement and helped shape the colony's growth.

1. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
LESSON 5: CROSSING THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS
S & E
History

2. Review
Spend about 30 seconds
thinking about the last
lesson…
What did we do?
What did you learn?
Share with the class

3. Lesson Outcomes
 By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
o Understand the contribution and significance of
3 explorers in the shaping of the colony of Sydney
in the 1800’s.
o Identify problems encountered during
expeditions.
o Produce a recount of events that took place to
help shape the colony.

4. The Blue Mountains
(Source: National Museum Australia, 2006)

5. The Problem
 The settlement at Sydney was growing larger as more
convicts and more free settlers arrived.
 As it grew, it was important to find more land to grow
food to feed the colony.
 There were increasing numbers of sheep and cattle, but
less and less grazing land.
 In 1813, there was a bad drought which damaged crops
and killed many sheep and cattle causing a food shortage.
 A way across the mountains needed to be found, and
many tried. However, they always found their way
blocked by steep mountains walls.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

6. Gregory Blaxland
 Gregory Blaxland was born in
England in 1778 and was a
farmer. He came with his family
to Australia as a free settler and
soon owned large areas of
farming land in the Sydney
settlement.
 When he realised that he needed
more grazing land for his sheep
and cattle, he decided to try and
find a way across the Blue
Mountains.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

7. Lawson and Wentworth
 Lawson was born in
England in 1774 and came
to Sydney as a soldier.
 Wentworth was born
aboard a sailing ship
travelling to Norfolk
Island, where his father
was in charge of the
convicts. Wentworth was
also a farmer and grazed
cattle.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

8. The Blue Mountains
(Source: National Museum Australia, 2006)

9. Brainstorm Activity
 In groups.
 Discuss the problems and dangers
Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth may
have encountered on their journey.
 Think of the climate, terrain, supplies,
animals, other humans???

10. The Journey
 Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth set off in
1813 to find a way across the Blue
Mountains.
 With them they took 3 convicts and a man
who hunted kangaroos in the mountains,
James Burns. They also took 4 pack horses
and five dogs.
 The horses carried equipment and six weeks'
supplies including salted meat, flour, tents, 7
hand guns, compasses, a hoe and tools for
cutting.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

11. The Journey
 It was a difficult journey. The explorers followed a
ridge that led them high up into the mountains and
on either side there were deep, rocky gullies,
making it very dangerous.
 Dew on the ground made the way slippery. A
couple of the horses fell because of the heavy loads
they were carrying.
 They had to cut their way through the thick bush
land. It was exhausting work and the men's hands
were skinned from cutting back vegetation and
cutting footholds for the horses so that they
wouldn't slip on the steep hillsides.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

12. The Journey
 At night, the explorers spent the nights sitting in darkness away
from the campfires because they were afraid that they would be
attacked by aboriginals who followed them constantly.
 They decided to mark their way by cutting the bark from the
trees on each side of the track. This way they could find their
way back across the mountains when the bush grew back.
 Their progress was slow and it was difficult finding food for the
horses.
 When they reached Mount York, they saw good grass in the
valley, but it would be very difficult climbing down to it.
 They unloaded the horses and used a hoe to make a small
trench, which stopped them from slipping.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

13. The Journey
 There was water in the valley and the horses ate fresh
grass for the first time since starting on the expedition.
 After the horses has recovered, they were taken back
up the mountains and the supplies reloaded to be
taken down the mountains.
 As it was so steep, the explorers had to carry the
supplies part of the way.
 On May 31, Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson crossed
the valley and climbed a high hill. From here they saw
wonderful grazing lands to the west of the Blue
Mountains.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

14. The Journey
 By now their supplies were very low, their clothing
was rags and their shoes were very worn. Also they
were starting to feel ill.
 The return trip took just under five days and on
June 6, they crossed the Nepean River and
returned to their homes.
 They had found a way across the Blue Mountains
opening up the settlement.
 The settlement in Sydney could now spread across
the mountains and the settlers could begin to use
the land to the west of the Blue Mountains.
Source: http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/blaxland/blaxland_-easier.htm

15. What Happened Next?
 In 1814 Governor Macquarie commissioned the
construction of a road through the steep and rocky
terrain. Convicts supervised by William Cox took just
six months to complete the road. Those who worked
hard were rewarded with their freedom.
 The route became the
Great Western Highway
in 1928.
(Sources: National Museum Australia, 2006; http://www.hideawayretreat.com.au/maps.asp, 2012)

16. Six Steps in Shaping Sydney!
 Construct a pictorial representation of the journey of
Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson and the
construction of the road over the mountain.
 You can write captions or speech bubbles to help
demonstrate your recount.
 Just an idea…
1. The 3 explorers
2. The problem
3. The journey
4. Problems or dangers
5. Success!
6. The future
(Adapted from: Croft, Forwood, McCormack and Macintosh, 2008)

17. Class Discussion