New Guinea Exploration Expedition (1885)

The New Guinea Exploration Expedition of 1885 was a scientific, collecting and anthropological expedition sent by the Geographical Society of Australasia to the Fly River region of Papua New Guinea. They named and explored the Strickland River.

An exploring expedition was sent to New Guinea on behalf of the three eastern colonies of Australia: Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. The party consisted of Captain Henry Charles Everill; sub-leaders Godfrey Hemsworth and R. G. Creagh; surgeon, botanist and geologist Dr. Bernays; general collector R. Broadbent; botanic collector E. W. Bauerlen of Sydney; zoologist Dr. W. Haacke and his assistant W. Froggatt; and photographer James H. Shaw.

The objects of the expedition were

. . . to ascertain and fix the geographical features of New Guinea and the nature of its fauna, flora, geology, and climate, and to illustrate the same by specimens, sketches, photographs, and written descriptions. The leader has been requested to obtain and note information regarding the language, habits, and customs of the natives; the character of their implements and utensils, and, in reference to their modes of sepulture, what implements, if any, or food, are buried with their dead, also, whether periodic feasts are held at the graves, and the traditional object of such customs. He has also to note the distance and course travelled, and to describe and fix the position of all the principal physical features of the country along the line of route, and on either side of it, as far as practicable, and daily to complete, from his observations, a feature map of the country traversed, a copy of which may be furnished to the scientific officers of the party, if desired. He is to note the number, character, distance apart, and general trend or fall of all water courses, or drainage channels crossed, the quality of water, if any, in such courses or channels; the mode of occurrence of water; springs, lakes, pools or running streams, with average depth of the same; the indications relative to probable permanence or otherwise of the same; also of periodical floods.

The Society chartered the Australasian Steam Navigation Company's steam launch Bonito, of 77 tons gross register as its river boat. It left Sydney in tow of Egmont on 10 June, and left Moreton Bay on 17 June 1885 in tow of the company's steamer Wentworth for Townsville and thence to Thursday Island by the A.S.N. ferry Alexandra. The Queensland Government steamer Advance (Captain Williams), took her to the mouth of the Fly River, where she was met by the Hon. John Douglas and Rev. McFarlane aboard the missionary steamer Mary. From there she would make her way to Mibu Island, in the Fly delta, and take on coal and fresh provisions from the schooner Mavis before proceeding up-river.

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