Gregory Blaxland (17 June 1778 – 1 January 1853) was an English pioneer farmer and explorer.

Blue Mountains expedition

thumb|300px|Exploration of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth

Early in 1813 Blaxland, who needed more grazing land, obtained the approval of Governor Lachlan Macquarie for an attempt to cross the Great Dividing Range, known as the Blue Mountains, following the mountain ridges, instead of following the rivers and valleys. He secured the participation of William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth in the expedition, which was successful (though the expedition stopped short of actually crossing over the mountains) and enabled the settlers to access and use the land west of the mountains for farming. The crossing took 21 days, and only 6 days to return.

In recognition of the successful crossing, all three explorers were granted by Macquarie of land west of the mountains.

Later years

His wife died in December 1826. In January 1827 Blaxland was elected by a public meeting with two others to present a petition to Governor Darling asking that "Trial by jury" and "Taxation by Representation" should be extended to the colony.

His son John was a prominent businessman. He was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council and served there from 1863 until his death in 1884.

Publications

  • A Journal of a Tour of Discovery Across the Blue Mountains, 1823
  • Blaxland Road
  • Eastwood
  • Wentworth Falls

In 1963 he was honoured, together with Lawson and Wentworth, on a postage stamp issued by Australia Post depicting the Blue Mountains crossing.

See also

  • Land exploration of Australia
  • List of Blue Mountains articles

References

  • A journal of a tour of discovery across the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Gregory Blaxland, online copy, State Library of New South Wales DSM/981.5/6D1