AustLit

19th-Century Australian Travel Writing

Born in Western Australia, Alexander Forrest Esquire, F.R.G.S. (1849-1901), was an explorer, politician and investor. His North-West Exploration: Journal of Expedition from DeGrey to Port Darwin was the journal of an expedition undertaken through the north-west of Australia in 1879 from the De Grey River in the Pilbara to Port Darwin. Written in diary form, it is a day-by-day account of their travel from February to October and includes a description of the exploration party's activities as well as their geographical locations. At the conclusion of his journal, Forrest wrote that he trusted the journal of a long journey would be of benefit to the colony, as that his travels discovered an area of country that could be opened up for pastoral and agricultural settlement. It acknowledged that the ill-health (including one death) of several members of the expedition was a source of great anxiety and Forrest thanked the members of his party for the support they gave him during the rough journey. The journal is accompanied by a collection of coloured sketches and a geological report.