John King (1838-1872) was the sole survivor of Australia's famous Burke and Wills expedition. The Burke and Wills memorial is also included in the White Hat Tours Tour of Melbourne Cemetery (Australia), and the Burke and Wills statue in Melbourne is one of the first highlights of White Hat Tours' City Walking Tour.
Unlike the grandiose monument to the leaders of the expedition, the sole survivor's tombstone is smaller and visibly amateurish in execution (with incorrect spelling of Burke). The reasons for his shabby treatment can be discussed with your guide on your Tour of Melbourne Cemetery . The simple inscription reads:
TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN KING SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE BOURKE AND WILLS EXPLORATION PARTY LEFT TO RECOUNT THE EVENT OF THAT EXPEDITION DECEASED 15 JAN 1872 AGED 31 YEAR
The Dig Tree The Story of Burke & Wills
In 1860, an eccentric Irish police officer named Robert O'Hara Burke set out from Melbourne at the head of the most lavish expedition of his age. Accompanied by William Wills, a shy English scientist, he was prepared to risk everything to become the first European to cross the Australian continent. Meanwhile, John McDouall Stuart, a dour Scotsman, was already trekking north from Adelaide. The race was on.
Sarah Murgatroyd's spell-binding book, which reveals new historical and scientific evidence, tells the full story of the disaster with all its heroism and romance, its discoveries, coincidences and lost opportunities. Generously illustrated with photographs, paintings and maps, The Dig Tree is a compelling account of one of the world's great adventure tragedies.
Qantas In Flight Magazine chooses
White Hat
Cemetery Tour as its featured Australian tour for May
There are many fine historical tours
throughout Australia including cemetery tours. From these, the
prestigious Qantas In Flight Magazine has chosen the White Hat Tour
of Melbourne Cemetery as its featured Australian tour for the May
2007 edition. This tour was also featured by ABC radio on 24 May and
will feature in a documentary series on Burke and Wills to be shown
on European television in 2008. The tour has been operating for many years and has won
praise from a wide range of sources. This is not a dry and stuffy
tour but in keeping with all White Hat offerings it is Informed,
Intelligent, Independent (and occasionally) Irreverent. You can find
details of the tour atWhite
Hat Tour of Melbourne Cemetery and view the article at
Qantas In Flight Magazine.
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