Blandowski expedition

Blandowski, who had come to Australia to compile a "natural history, botanical classification and geological arrangement" secured 2,000 pounds in funding from the Government of Victoria for the expedition. In 1853 Blandowski applied to Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe for funding for an 'Illustrated Natural History of the Colony of Victoria'. He made the first of several excursions in 1854. In 1856 Blandowski was appointed leader of an expedition to the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers to collect specimens for the National Museum. ==Route==

Blandowski's party headed north from Melbourne to Lancefield, then following land the south of the Murray River north-west along Echuca, Gunbower, Pyramid Hill, Lake Boga, and Swan Hill. The party crossed the Murray briefly at Euston before visiting the areas of Mildura, Yelta, Mondellimin crossing briefly into New South Wales at Wentworth. He continued to follow the Murray River to South Australia establishing camps at Moorundee and Goolwa and arrived in Adelaide in August 1857 before returning to Melbourne. ==Legacy==

The expedition collected 17,400 scientific specimens contained in 28 boxes. 19 new species of fish were discovered. Blandowski left Australia shortly following the expedition. File:Corroboree or native festival.jpg|Corroboree 1857 File:Natives visiting Europeans.jpg|Natives visiting Europeans 1857 File:Marn grook illustration 1857-crop.jpg|Jarijari domestic scene at Mondellimin 1857 by Gustav Mützel 1862 File:Aboriginal fire making.jpg|Aboriginal fire making by Gustav Mützel File:Canoe making.jpg|Canoe making by Gustav Mützel File:Corroboree_on_the_Murray_River.jpg|Corroboree on the Murray River by Gerard Krefft, 1857 A monument was erected at Merbein in 2007 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the expedition. ==References==