Expedition to Jervis Bay

George William Evans (1780-1852) was employed to survey the eastern coast south from Port Jackson to Jervis Bay. While the hand-written journal that documents this expedition is anonymous, it was probably written by Evans. It was the first account of the country between the Cow Pastures (Camden) and Jervis Bay.

For newly arrived European settlers in the early 19th century, the south coast of New South Wales proved an almost impassable region of thick bush, soaring cliffs and broad rivers. Evans' account describes a land survey around Jervis Bay and the return journey to Appin, as the expedition hoped to identify an inland route to Port Jackson. The expedition covered ground unknown to Europeans and the men relied on the knowledge of local Indigenous people, such as Bundle.

Acknowledged by Evans only once, Bundle, also known as Bon-del, Bundal, Bundell or Burreach, from the Gundungurra (Camden) area, is mentioned in published accounts by Watkin Tench and David Collins. As a boy, Bundle travelled with Captain Hill to Norfolk Island. He led an eventful life, accompanying other expeditionary parties to the southern regions of New South Wales and acting as interpreter between Europeans and members of the Gundungurra people. He also joined Phillip Parker King on a surveying voyage to the northern coast of Australia and visited Mauritius while the ship underwent repairs.

> Read Evans' account of the expedition to Jervis Bay