Gregory Blaxland

"Gregory Blaxland was born on June 17, 1778, in Fordwich, Kent, England. He emigrated to Australia with his wife and three children on 1 September 1805, on the William Pitt. His brother John arrived two years later. Upon arrival in Sydney, he purchased some cattle and soon after began raising large numbers of both cattle and sheep. He was important to early Australian history in his role as a pioneer farmer, landowner and explorer, well known for his part in the expedition that successfully found a route across the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. Within a few years following his arrival in Australia he realized that he would require more land and pastures for his expanding livestock. He could not expand his landholdings on the coast and drew the correct conclusion that the solution to the pastoralists' land problem lay in discovering a route to the interior. In 1810 he had explored part of the Nepean River, then in early 1813 he requested Governor Macquarie's approval to form an exploring expedition across the Blue Mountains, as he wished to travel into the interior to seek more pastureland. At that point he joined forces with William Charles Wentworth and William Lawson setting out on a journey into the interior of the Australian continent. Thus, the trio set out on 11 May 1813 to make the first successful attempt by Europeans to find a route across the Blue Mountains. This marked the beginning of European migration into the Outback. Following the expedition, Blaxland once again settled on his estate. He also cultivated a vineyard and produced wine and won a medal for his wine efforts while in England in 1822. He also published a journal detailing his exploration into the Blue Mountains. He died on January 1, 1853, in Parramatta, New South Wales.".