What were Charles Sturt's achievements?

Answer 1

Captain Charles Sturt made a number of notable achievements. Drawing on the skills of experienced bushman and explorer Hamilton Hume, Sturt departed in late 1828 to trace the Macquarie River in NSW. Following the Macquarie inland, they came to a smaller river which, due to the drought, was merely a series of waterholes. This was the Bogan, which Sturt followed downstream until he arrived at what he described as "a noble river", on 2 February 1829. This was the Darling, which Sturt named after Governor Darling. Governor Darling then sent Sturt to trace the course of the Murrumbidgee River, and to see whether it joined to the Darling. Late in 1829 Sturt and his party followed the river in a whaleboat and discovered that the Murrumbidgee River flowed into the Murray (previously named the Hume), and that the Darling also flowed into the Murray. Sturt continued to trace the course of the Murray southwards. On 9 February 1830, the whaleboat sailed into Lake Alexandrina, from which he could see the open sea of the southern coast. Sturt's account of his journey was significant in the decision by Edward Gibbon Wakefield to choose South Australia for the new settlement being contemplated. Sturt's discoveries were significant, for they allowed for the development of paddle-steamer transportation of goods and passengers along Australia's inland waterways. Sturt was also keen to determine for once and for all whether or not there was an inland sea in the Australian continent. In 1844 he travelled through northwest New South Wales into central Australia where he discovered the Simpson Desert (but did not name it).

Answer 2

Charles Napier Sturt was a famous explorer of Australia.

Captain Charles Sturt undertook to solve the mystery of where the inland rivers of New South Wales flowed. Sturt first traced the Macquarie River as far as the Darling, which he named after Governor Darling.

Pleased with Sturt's discoveries, Governor Darling sent Sturt to trace the course of the Murrumbidgee River, and to see whether it joined to the Darling. On this expedition, Sturt discovered that the Murrumbidgee River flowed into the Murray (previously named the Hume), as did the Darling. By following the Murray in a collapsible whaleboat, Sturt found that it flowed to the southern ocean, emptying out at Lake Alexandrina on the south coast. The expedition was valuable for opening up Australia's inland waterways to the transportation of people and goods. It was also significant for introducing the possibility of settlement in the area around the Murray mouth.

Sturt led further expeditions into Australia's interior to determine conclusively whether there was an inland sea, but found only the desert and harsh conditions, completely unsuitable for settlement.

Answer 3

Three interesting facts about Charles Sturt are:

1. He solved the mystery of the westward-flowing rivers in Australia.

2. He was the first the chart the entire course of the Murray River from its junction with the Murrumbidgee. His exploration, and the discovery that the Murray led to the southern coast, was a catalyst for the establishment of the colony of South Australia.

3. Sturt also explored the interior of Australia, determined to find the inland sea he was sure existed. It didn't exist, but the Sturt Desert Pea, the floral emblem of South Australia, was named after him.

Answer 4

Charles Sturt was most famous for his exploration of the Murray River. This exploration changed Australian history. By following the Murray, he opened up the inland waterways of New South Wales for transportation via paddlesteamers, opening new areas for settlement and contributing to the colony's growth. He solved the mystery of the westward flowing rivers, one which had puzzled the colonists, as they expected rivers to flow towards the sea, not away from it.

Sturt first traced the Macquarie River as far as the Darling, which he named after Governor Darling. He then followed the Murrumbidgee River, discovering that the Murrumbidgee River flowed into the Murray (previously named the Hume), as did the Darling. By following the Murray in a collapsible whaleboat, Sturt found that it flowed to the southern ocean, emptying out at Lake Alexandrina on the south coast. The expedition was valuable for opening up Australia's inland waterways to the transportation of people and goods.

Sturt was also famous for his persistent belief that there was an inland sea. He led further expeditions into Australia's interior to determine conclusively whether such a sea existed, but found only the desert and harsh conditions, completely unsuitable for settlement. In doing so, he answered the age-old question of what lay in Australia's interior.