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Leichhardt's 1844-45 route
VI
WHY AREN’TWE THERE YET?
March 1845
Leichhardt’s early predictions as well as his unrealistic preparations for provisions were that the
journey would be completed in about six months, but by March 1845 they were already into their
sixth month yet only one-third of the way towards Port Essington. There may have been some
self-delusion in his diary entry for 9th March when Leichhardt wrote
“…we had acquired a sort of
instinctive feeling as to the course we should adopt…”
Some of the party noted how easily he could
be distracted by his naturalist interests. Later, Williams Phillips (the ticket-of-leave convict, a former
solicitor sentenced to transportation to Australia for fraud) wrote about Leichhardt's reconnoitring
absences
"…or in other words his botanical and geological pursuits…"
. Leichhardt’s diary
contains lengthy and brilliant passages on geology, flora, fauna, hydrology, climate, native foods and
observations on aboriginal culture.
80 x 120 cm
oil on board
2013
