This article is about the person. For the Australian pilot ship, see John Oxley (ship). The John Oxley is an Australian coastal steamer, built in 1927 in Scotland. ...

John Oxley

John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (1783/1785? – 26 May 1828) was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation. is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This list of explorers is sorted by surname. ...

Background

Oxley was born at Kirkham Abbey near Westow, North Yorkshire, England, the eldest son of John Oxley and his wife Isabella, who was the daughter of Irish Viscount Molesworth. He joined the navy in 1799 as a midshipman in the Venerable, and transferred in November 1801 to the Buffalo, in which as master's mate he sailed to Australia. Kirkham is a village in North Yorkshire, England, close to Malton, situated in the Howardian Hills alongside the River Derwent, and is notable for the nearby ruins of Kirkham priory, an Augustinian priory. ... North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The title of Viscount Molesworth was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1716. ...

Arriving there in October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05. In 1805 Governor King appointed him acting lieutenant in charge of the Buffalo, and in 1806 he commanded the Estramina on a trip to Van Diemen's Land. Next year he returned to England where on November 25, he was commissioned lieutenant. He came back to Sydney in November 1808 to take up an appointment as first lieutenant in H.M.S. Porpoise, having sailed out as agent for the Transport Board in the convict ship Speke, in which he shipped goods worth £800 as an investment. He had obtained an order from the Colonial Office for a grant of 600 acres (2.4 km²) near the Nepean River, but Lieutenant-Governor Paterson granted him 1,000 acres (4.0 km²). Oxley had to surrender these in 1810, but Governor Macquarie granted him 600 acres (2.4 km²) near Camden which he increased in 1815 to 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) again. This he called Kirkham. Western Port looking west from French Island to the Mornington Peninsula Western Port (also known as Western Port Bay) is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent and to the east of Port Phillip on which is sited Melbourne, the capital... Colonel Lachlan Macquarie (31 January 1762–1 July 1824), colonial governor regarded by many as the real founder of Australia, was born in the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides islands of Scotland. ... Camden in New South Wales, Australia, is a historic town and Sydney Suburb 65 km southwest of the Sydney CBD and near the city of Campbelltown. ...

When Paterson allowed the deposed Governor Bligh to leave Sydney in the Porpoise in March 1809 Oxley was aboard and sailed with Bligh to the Derwent. Next year he wrote a lengthy report on the settlements in Van Diemen's Land before sailing for England in the Porpoise in May. In London he applied for the post of Naval Officer in Sydney, and then, after paying C. Grimes to resign, according to John Macarthur, he twice sought that of surveyor-general. Oxley denied that he had been a partisan of Macarthur when Bligh was deposed, but his letters show that he was on very intimate terms with the rebel leader. In 1812 he became engaged to Elizabeth Macarthur; this was broken off when her father discovered the extent of Oxley's debts. By that time, through the influence of Macarthur's friend Walter Davidson, Oxley's second application for the surveyor-generalship had been successful. In 1811 he had retired from the navy, and in May 1812 sailed for Sydney in the Minstrel to take up his new duties. William Bligh in 1814 Vice-Admiral William Bligh, FRS (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator. ... 1663 map of Van Diemens Land, showing the parts discovered by Tasman, including Storm Bay, Maria Island and Schouten Island. ...

Naval career

John Oxley entered the Royal Navy when he was aged eleven.  He travelled to Africa in October 1802 as master’s mate of the naval-vessel Boo, which carried out coastal surveying (including the survey of Western Port).  In 1805 Oxley was promoted to second lieutenant.  In 1806 he commanded the Estramina on a trip to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).  He returned to England in 1807 and was appointed first lieutenant in charge of HMS Porpoise, joining her in 1808.  In 1809 HMS Porpoise visited Van Diemen's Land, carrying as a passenger Governor William Bligh who had been deposed in the and every one died.Rum Rebellion.^[1] This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Western Port looking west from French Island to the Mornington Peninsula Western Port (also known as Western Port Bay) is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent and to the east of Port Phillip on which is sited Melbourne, the capital... 1663 map of Van Diemens Land, showing the parts discovered by Tasman, including Storm Bay, Maria Island and Schouten Island. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... 1814 portrait of William Bligh Vice-Admiral William Bligh FRS RN (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator. ... This article is about the Australian rebellion. ...

Lachlan River expedition

Expeditions of Oxley

In March 1817 John Oxley was instructed to take charge of an expedition to explore and survey the course of the Lachlan River.  He left Sydney on 6 April with George Evans as second-in-command, and Allan Cunningham as botanist.  Evans had discovered a portion of the Lachlan River west of Bathurst in 1815.  Oxley’s party reached Bathurst after a week, where they were briefly detained by bad weather.  They reached the Lachlan River on 25 April 1817 and commenced to follow its course, with part of the stores being conveyed in boats.  As the exploring party travelled westward the country surrounding the rising river was found to be increasingly inundated.  On 12 May, west of the present township of Forbes, they found their progress impeded by an extensive marsh.  After retracing their route for a short distance they then proceeded in a south-westerly direction, intending to travel overland to the southern Australian coastline.  By the end of May the party found themselves in a dry scrubby country.  Shortage of water and the death of two horses forced Oxley’s return to the Lachlan*.  On 23 June the Lachlan River was reached: “we suddenly came upon the banks of the river… which we had quitted nearly five weeks before”.  They followed the course of the Lachlan River for a fortnight.  The party encountered much flooded country, and on 7 July Oxley recorded that "it was with infinite regret and pain that I was forced to come to the conclusion, that the interior of this vast country is a marsh and uninhabitable".  Oxley resolved to turn back and after resting for two days Oxley’s party began to retrace their steps along the Lachlan River.  They left the Lachlan up-stream of the present site of Lake Cargelligo and crossed to the Bogan River and then across to the upper waters of the Macquarie, which they followed back to Bathurst (arriving on 29 August 1817).^[2] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Lachlan River is a significant river in central New South Wales, Australia. ... George Wilson Evans was a surveyor and early explorer in the colony of New South Wales. ... Bathurst is a regional centre in the state of New South Wales, Australia approximately 200km west of Sydney and is the seat of the Bathurst Regional Council Local Government Area. ... The Bogan River was discovered by Charles Sturt in 1829 and is a minor river in the central western region of New South Wales, Australia. ... The Macquarie River is one of the main inland rivers in New South Wales. ...

Macquarie River expedition

Oxley travelled to Dubbo on 12 June 1818. He wrote that he had passed that day 'over a very beautiful country, thinly wooded and apparently safe from the highest floods...' For the seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, see Electoral district of Dubbo. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Later in 1818 Oxley and his men explored the Macquarie River at length before turning east. On 26 August 1818 they climbed a hill and saw before them rich, fdQWEHUWales|Peel River]], near the present site of Tamworth. Continuing further east they crossed the Great Dividing Range and came upon the Hastings River. Following it to its mouth, they discovered that it flowed into the sea at a spot which they named Port Macquarie. is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Tamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. ... The Great Dividing Range, also known as the Eastern Highlands, is Australias most substantial mountain range. ... Length  ? km Elevation of the source  ? m Average discharge  ? m³/s Area watershed  ? km² Origin Great Dividing Range Mouth Tasman Sea Basin countries Australia The Hastings River is a large river on the mid-North Coast of the Australian state of New South Wales that empties into the Tasman Sea... Apartments in Port Macquarie at twilight - Hollingworth Street, Westport. ...

In 1823 Oxley set out northwards along the coastline, in the cutter Mermaid to explore Port Curtis (the site of Gladstone) and Moreton Bay. He continued to explore the region, which is now known as South East Queensland. For other uses see cutter (disambiguation) An American-looking gaff cutter with a genoa jib set This French yawl has a gaff topsail set. ... For other uses, see Gladstone (disambiguation). ... The foreshore at Manly. ... The South East Queensland region. ...

In 1824 Oxley, accompanied by Allan Cunningham, discovered the Brisbane River and Bremer River on Moreton Bay, which has since developed into the city of Brisbane. Portait of Allan Cunningham Allan Cunningham (13 July 1791 – 27 June 1839) was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants. ... The Brisbane River is situated in southeast Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. ... The Bremer River is a sub-catchment of the Brisbane River. ... The foreshore at Manly. ... For other uses, see Brisbane (disambiguation). ...

Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted him 600 acres (2.4 km²) near Camden in 1810, which he increased to 1,000 acres (4 km²) in 1815. He named this property Kirkham and raised and bred sheep. He was also briefly a director of the Bank of New South Wales. He was one of five members of the original New South Wales Legislative Council in 1824, but was not reappointed when the council was reconstituted in 1825. Oxley had two sons with Emma Norton (1798-1885), whom he married in 1821 and earlier two daughters by Charlotte Thorpe and one by Elizabeth Marnon. Major General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB (31 January 1762[1] – 1 July 1824), British military officer and colonial administrator, served as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development... Camden in New South Wales, Australia, is a historic town and Sydney Suburb 65 km southwest of the Sydney CBD and near the city of Campbelltown. ... Westpac Banking Corporation, usually called Westpac, is one of the largest banks in Australasia. ... The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. ...

The Oxley Highway in New South Wales, Oxley Island on the north coast of New South Wales, the Federal electorate of Oxley (Queensland), the New South Wales Electoral district of Oxley, the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and the suburbs of Oxley, Queensland and Oxley, Australian Capital Territory are named after Oxley. The John Oxley Library, part of the State Library of Queensland, is dedicated to preserving and making available Queensland's documentary history. NSW redirects here. ... The Division of Oxley is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. ... Oxley is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. ... Jacaranda tree in Oxley Oxley is a south-western suburb of Brisbane named after the early Australian explorer John Oxley. ... Oxley is a small suburb in the Canberra, Australia district of Tuggeranong. ... view of the State Library of Queensland from the Brisbane River The State Library of Queensland is a large public library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the State Government. ...

Illness and Death

Request for leave due to illness dated 5th July 1824

John Oxley suffered with illness throughout his service caused by the difficulties of his expeditions. He finally succumbed to his illness and died on 26 May 1828 at Kirkham. is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

References

External links

• Works by John Oxley at Project Gutenberg
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Oxley, John". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. 
• Online edition of his writing
• Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive and distribute cultural works. ... The Dictionary of Australian Biography, first published in 1949, is a reference work by Percival Serle containing information on notable people associated with Australian history. ...

Further reading

Johnson, Richard, The Search for the Inland Sea: John Oxley, Explorer, 1783-1828, Melbourne University Press, 2001.