About the exhibition

The heroic legend of Burke & Wills is second only to Gallipoli among Australia's epics of defeat. This major travelling exhibition - curated by Tim Bonyhady, one of Australia's leading historians - is the first to comprehensively explore the subject.

Drawn from public and private collections throughout Australia, Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth, presents a multi-disciplinary assemblage of works of art, natural history specimens, relics and manuscripts produced before, during and after the ill-fated expedition.

The exhibition includes a selection of major nineteenth-century paintings. Among them are the beautiful watercolours painted during the course of the expedition by the talented colonial artist, Ludwig Becker, who later died on the journey; the enigmatic portrait by William Strutt, Robert O'Hara Burke, and the exceptionally detailed Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition by Nicholas Chevalier. Curious relics such as a nardoo cake - the food and one of the hooves of Billy (Burke's horse) are included, as are the notes and diaries written by Burke and Wills leading up to their deaths. Some of the most interesting works of art are those which explore the myth of Burke and Wills - the iconic paintings of the modernist artists Sidney Nolan and Albert Tucker, and the more recent evocative work of the South Australian artist Antony Hamilton.

This National Library of Australia exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.

Admission charges

Guided Tours

Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays at  2 pm
Meet at the entrance to the exhibition. Entry charges apply - see above

Private Tours
Get a group together of ten people or more and have your own private tour.
Telephone 8207 7075 or 8207 7090 to be put in touch with the Gallery Guide Booking Officer

Talks, & Lectures

Tuesday 2 July at 12.45 pm
Lunchtime talk
Artist, Nicholas Folland, talks about the collections gathered by Burke and Wills on their epic journey. This talk will take place in the exhibition. Entry fees apply

Saturday 17 August at 11 am
Presentation by Curator: Inside Melbourne to Myth
Join Friends and Foundation members for a slide presentation and talk on the exhibition Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth given by Tim Fisher, Exhibitions Curator at the National Library of Australia. Exhibition entry and morning tea included. Non members also welcome.
Tickets: $12 members, $20 non members.

Saturday 17 August at 3 pm
Special floor talk
Tim Fisher, Exhibitions Curator at the National Library of Australia, gives a special talk on the development of the Burke & Wills exhibition and the works of art featured. Entry fees apply

Burke's hair, cut off with a penknife, previous to interment, 18 September 1861 Mitchell Library Collection, State Library of New South Wales

Storytelling in the Gallery

Storytelling in the Gallery
Join storyteller Graham Ross and hear him weave tales of exploration, mystery and great feats. Each session 12 minutes duration. Entry fees apply – free for children under 16 years
See session times below

Sunday 23 June (in conjunction with Family drop-in Day)
Session times: 2, 2.30 & 3 pm

Monday, 15 July, Wednesday 17 July and Friday 19 July
Session times: 11.30 am, 1.15 and 2.45 pm

Sunday 28 July (in conjunction with Family drop-in Day)
Session times: 2, 2.30 & 3 pm

Thursday 8 August at 12.45 pm
Lecture: The heritage and legacy of Burke & Wills
Historian and heritage consultant, Peter Bell, goes beyond the tragedy of the journey and looks at its place in the politics, ambitions and values of nineteenth century imperialisam and its legacy. Auditorium. Gold coin donation.

Saturday 17 August at 11 am
Presentation by Curator: Inside Melbourne to Myth
Join fellow members for a slide presentation and talk on the exhibition Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth given by Tim Fisher, Exhibitions Curator at the National Library of Australia. Exhibition entry and morning tea included. Non members also welcome
Tickets: $12 members, $20 non members.

Ludwig Becker, Australia, 1808-1861 Portrait of Dick, the Brave and Gallant Native Guide, Darling Depot, 21 December 1860 watercolour, brush and ink on paper, 14.0 x 22.3 cm La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria   © copyright

Education

School group booking information:
Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth offers a valuable range of materials for school students. Admission for school groups is $20 per class size group. Free to country and listed disadvantaged schools. All teachers and supervising adults receive free entry
Groups must be booked by telephoning 8207 7033

Education pack
The Burke & Wills education pack will be available on-line shortly

Links to useful resources
National Library of Australia - the Diary of William John Wills
State Library of Victoria - Burke and Wills

Wednesday 26 June
5.30 – 7.30 pm
Teachers’ Preview
Burke & Wills: From Melbourne to Myth
A special preview for primary and secondary teachers. Free, but bookings are essential.
Please fax 8207 7070. No confirmations issued

Children's Activities

Storytelling on Family drop-in Days
Sunday 23 June and Sunday 28 July
at 2, 2.30 and 3 pm
Hear storyteller Graham Ross weave tales of exploration, mystery and great feats in the Burke & Wills exhibition. Each session lasts for 12 minutes
Entry fees apply – free for children under 16 years

Storytelling in the Gallery
Monday 15, Wednesday 17 and Friday 19 July
at 11.30 am, 1.15 and 2.45 pm
Join storyteller Graham Ross in the Burke & Wills exhibition and hear him weave tales of exploration, mystery and great feats. Each session 12 minutes duration
Entry fees apply – free for children under 16 years

Children’s Activities: Bunyips and Billabongs
Monday 15 - Friday 19 July
at 10.30 am, 12 noon and 1.30 pm
Capture the spirit of early explorers through making a bushy’s hat, a kindly clay bunyip or cartoon an exploration painting. Suitable for children 5-10 years
Sessions $5 per child. Bookings essential: call Megan on 8207 7005

Free screenings and video viewing

During the exhibition there will be regular screenings of the following two videos.These videos will screen most days under the staircase in gallery 25

Peach’s explorers: south to north
Bill Peach follows the journeys of Burke and Wills and John McDouall Stuart
(1984) 30 mins.|
Courtesy ABC Video

The explorers: Burke & Wills
A dramatisation of the trials of Burke and Wills, the first white men to cross Australia from south to north. This BBC production recreates the extraordinary events of the Burke and Wills expedition. (1975) 50 mins.
Courtesy of the South Australian Video and Film Library

Films in the Auditorium

Sunday 7 July at 2 pm
Burke and Wills
This epic story of the ill fated journey of exploration led by Burke and Wills across the Australian continent south to north. Starring Jack Thompson, Nigel Havers and Gretta Scacchi. (1985). 135 mins. Free.
Courtesy of Australian Films Investment Corporation Pty Ltd

Sunday 14 July at 2 pm
Wills and Burke
A comedy spoof of the ill fated journey of exploration undertaken by Burke and Wills and their party. Stars Garry MacDonald, Kym Gyngell, Nicole Kidman. (1985) 101 mins. Free.
Courtesy of Bob Weis and Generation Films

To see what other events and activities are on at the Gallery,
click here to go to the Calendar of Events

At the Bookshop

Catalogue
An illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition and is available from the Gallery Bookshop for $19.95 (discount applies for members)

Publications
A range of books relating to Burke and Wills and the history of Australian exploration will be available from the Gallery Bookshop. For more information about the Gallery Bookshop, click here

Sponsors