Burke, Wills, Burke and Hare

Scotland has Burke and Hare, Australia has Burke and Wills. Two completely dissimilar stories obviously! I read ages ago that Burke and Wills died eventually because they refused help from the indigenous people they encountered as they tried to make it across Australia. All stiff upper lips and playing the white man, what? However, apparently they did accept help, but this ended when Burke shot his pistol at one of the locals who had come to their aid. Madness.

This statue is on the Corner of Swanston and Collins Streets in central Melbourne. Designed by Charles Summers and costing what must have been at the time, the huge amount of £14,000. It was unveiled on 21 April 1865, four years after the explorers returned to the Dig Tree.