When the idea of a major exploration was first suggested in late 1857, Victoria had only been a separate colony with its own government for six years. As the population and affluence of the colony increased in the first years of the gold rush, so too did intercolonial rivalry.
The decision by the Royal Society of Victoria to mount a major exploration was a chance to show what Victorians could do with their newfound wealth. It was also an opportunity to be part of the race to document the interior of the country which was unknown to Europeans – terra incognita.
Royal Society of Victoria
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Victoria and the Age of Exploration
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