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State Library of New South Wales
Journal of an expedition across the Blue Mountains

Journal of an expedition across the Blue Mountains

11 May - 6 June 1813
Safe 1/22a
Manuscript journal

Explorer and pastoralist lieutenant William Lawson (1774-1850) was a wealthy land owner in Prospect, western Sydney. Like Gregory Blaxland, Lawson had a desire to expand his agricultural interests, but to do this, he required more land.

In the early days of the colony, it was widely believed that an abundance of fertile farming land existed on the other side of the Blue Mountains, however many failed attempts by other explorers proved they were difficult to cross.

In 1813 Blaxland invited Lawson to accompany him and William Charles Wentworth on an expedition to find a route across the Blue Mountains. Lawson's knowledge of surveying made him a particularly valuable member of the expedition. His journal, with its accurate record of times and distances, enables the route to be precisely retraced.

After the crossing

As a reward for the explorers efforts, Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted each of them 1000 acres (405 ha) in the newly discovered districts west of the Blue Mountains*. This was seen as an overly generous offer considering that all three men were publicly critical of the Governor’s leadership.

‘Old Ironbark [William] Lawson selected a stretch of fertile land along the Campbell River near Bathurst, which enabled him to pursue his agricultural ambitions. In July 1815 Lawson lead the first heard of livestock over the mountains, opening up a passage to the western plains for other graziers. Over the years, Lawson’s land holdings grew both east and west of the divide, as did his head of stock. He imported merino rams and ewes from England, as well as Shorthorn cattle and blood horses. His horses were famous throughout the colony in the coaching days. *


*Australian Dictionary of Biography
 http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lawson-william-2338