PUBLIC LIBRARY, MUSEUM, AND ART GALLERY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT.
-------------------------------------COPY OF MAUNSCRIPT DIARY KEPT BY MISS JULIA GAWLER
DURING COLONEL GAWLER'S EXPEDITION TO MT. BRYAN, 1839.(Julia Gawler was a daughter of Col. Gawler and was afterwards Mrs George Hall.)
1839.
Nov 22nd. Started from Adelaide about 12 o'clock in the carriage, and reached the Onkaparinga about 4 o'clock. The gentlemen made a bridge for Mrs. Sturt and me, for the water was too deep for the carriage. Our horses had beentethered on the other side for us, so we mounted them and went on towards Tarranga, which we reached about 5 o'clock. Found Mrs. Macleod very well, but still living in a tent. Had something to eat and drink and made the best of our way to Willunga, where we arrived about 7 o'clock. A very fine day.23rd. Started from Willunga about 10 o'clock for Currency Creek, which we reached about 5 o'clock. Rode through a very swampy scrubby country and remarked that the most beautiful flowers grew on the worst, and most barren, country. We had a very bad day, rain and hail most of the way, and our horses would insist on standing still when the rain and wind came on, so that we were well wet through.
24th. Being very tired Mrs. Sturt and self did not get up for breakfast. Papa and Captain S. read divine service at quarter past eleven.
25th. Too wet and rough to set off to the Lake, so we made ourselves comfortable in the tent. About 1 o'clock Mr. Pullen took us in the boat, as far as Bar. He has been kind and thoughtful. Made cushions for the boat, an awning and two fans made of emu's feathers to drive away the mosquitoes, which were very troublesome. Saw plenty of pelicans, ducks and swallows, and beautiful scenery all round us.
26th. Started at half past nine from Currency Creek, in a whale boat, and landed about 2 o'clock on the nearest land 16 miles from Currency Creek. Plenty of mosquitoes. Captain Sturt found a stray horse and brought it down to the camp. It was perfectly tame and quiet. The secnery was beautiful all down the channel. Saw some natives on Hindmarsk Island, and on the opposite shore. Bob made signs for then to come, but they would not.
27th. Set off at half past nine, across the Lake, and after rowing about ... miles we again landed on a very reedy shore. Saw some natives, and one of the man started a kangaroo, but it hopped off, and we saw no more of it. Very low land, almost a plain, with a few bushes and trees scattered over it. The wind was high which made the water rough and me sick, so I could not look about me.
28th. Started about 7 o'clock in the morning and landed on the Great Western Headland where we saw a great number of Blacks and breakfasted. Papa distributed fish hooks and biscuits amongst them. We started again at nine and arrived at Mr. Morphett's station about 6 o'clock. Had a very large fish for dinner. The day was beautifully fine, and the water very calm. We saw a native dead, wrapped up in matting and laid on top of two sticks.
29th. Set off from Mr. Morphett's Station at 10 o'clock, and landed on the banks of the Murray at 4 o'clock. Mr. Inman gave us 4 wild duck eggs. Saw snakes swimming in the water as we came along, and a very large fish, besides Cormorants Pelicans, Ducks and other birds. Very fine day and a fair wind.
30th. Rode with Papa, Mr. Inman and Bryan. Arthur went in the...... Started at 9 o'clock, could not find the boat party in the evening. Expected they were behind, but saw a fire in front and discovered it was them. Arrived at 6 o'clock. Saw plenty of natives in the camp. Very harmless and quiet. The road was scrubby, chiefly through pine forests.
Dec 1st. Being tired with my ride and not very well, did not attend Divine Service. Very windy, cold day.
2nd. Papa, Mr. Inman and Mr. Bryan rode. Our boats could not get so far as was fixed. Lit a large fire for a signal. Saw Mr. Inman, Mr. Bryan, William and the policeman (but not Papa) on the top of a hill. Thought they saw the fire but they did not, and sent out sailors to the .... of the hill to shoot and light a fire. They did not come to us that night. Very much frightened. Landed at 5 o'clock.
3rd. Set off to look for the party at 8 o'clock. Found them about 12 miles from our place of encampment. Papa very bad headache, had nothing to eat but native apples. Did not travel any more that day.
4th. Started about 9 o'clock, and after rowing 13 miles we landed and encamped for the night. The riding party met us about 5 o'clock. We landed about half past four. Saw no natives. Foul wind.
5th. Started at 8 o'clock and landed about 4; the riding party came in at 5. Plenty of natives - very good-tempered men. Showed their astonishment at every .... they saw, by calling out "Yar". A great sameness in all the way up the river - very large rocks on one side, and a plain on the other alternatively. Reeds very high by the water side. The natives say they have killed four white men with wadies (sic) and spears a little way up the river.
6th. Started at 9 o'clock in the morning. Mr. Inman drove two cows to the river's brink, and when we came up they, one after the other, swam across the river. They both had calves. We then landed where there were some great rocks, and we got some fossils. We came in by 4 o'clock. Very fine day, hardly any wind.
7th. Set off at half past eight in the morning, and landed about 4 o'clock. After landing, Papa, Mrs. Sturt, Captain Sturt, A.G., Mr. Bryan, Mr. I. and self went to the other side to look at the rocks, and then returned with some fossils.
8th. Papa read prayers with Captain S. Very hot day. No natives.
9th. Started at 9 o'clock and after sailing about 20 miles we landed on a bank. Papa rode. Arthur got into the boat. Met some of Captain Finiss' (sic) party with sheep. Sent for two of them. Expect to get to the bend to-morrow, in Papa's ......
10th. Reached the bend about 5 o'clock. Papa and Mrs. Sturt rode. Passed some high cliffs. The blacks had set the country on fire to frighten us. Isaac caught a young paroquet (sic). Very hot.
11th. Papa, Captain Sturt, Mr. Bryan and Mr. Inman went to the North for a few days. Set off about 10 o'clock. Very windy day.
12th. Mrs. Sturt and I rode out with Arthur in the evening. Very windy, hot day.
13th. Very hot day, no wind. Rode out with A. and Mr. Pullen.
14th. Very hot, went in the boat with A. and Mr. Pullen.
15th. At 5 Captain Sturt, Mr. Inman and Craig came home. Papa came home at quarter past 5 very much exhausted, having had no water since Thursday night. Papa said Mr. Bryan was following him, and would be in in a short time. However, no Mr. Bryan came, so at 6, Arthur, Mr. Pullen and Bob went down the river on horseback, and a boat went down with six sailors, to look for him, but returned without him. Arthur, Strange, and Bob set off up the country at 6 o'clock in the evening.
16th. Arthur returned without Mr. B. at 8 o'clock. Captain Sturt, Mr. Inman and Bob, set off about 10, to go and look for him, and returned about 6. Said they had found his coat, drawers, handkerchief, stiffener, telescope, saddle, bridle, blanket, socks, and a bit of paper on which was written: "Sunday evening, 9 p.m. Gone in S.S.E. direction, could not go on sooner through exhaustion. H. Bryan." Mr. Pullen then started with 5 men in a boat down the river at 8 o'clock p.m. and Strange, Craig and Richardson set off by land The sailors, Arthur, and Isaac, had been to look for him in the middle of the day.
17th. Boat and men not returned. Very cool day and windy.
18th. Men returned and not found him. Boat returned in the afternoon without success. Papa and Arthur went out a ride.
19th. Captain Sturt, Mr. Inman, and Bob, went in S.S.E. direction down as far as the river, but could not find him. Papa and I went out a walk.
20th. Mr. Pullen and his men went home and left us at the bend.
21st. Started for Adelaide at six o'clock, Mrs. Sturt and I in the horse cart. Went on till 2, stopped a little further up the Murray, got some luncheon, and started again about 4, I riding. Stopped again at 6 for the night.
22nd. Scarcity of provisions made it necessary to travel to-day. We started at 6. I was riding. Went through part of the interminable scrub. Stopped at 2 to lunch, and started again about 5, and stopped at 7. I rode in the cart. Papa went on to find water about 4 miles off, and returned about 9.
23rd. Started for the water about 9 o'clock. Mr. Inman went to Mr. Eyre's station for provisions. Saw two emus. Very hilly country. Stopped at 11 o'clock. Met 4 natives on the road.
24th. Started at 11 o'clock. Went through a very hilly country. Stopped at a water hole till the strays came up, and then went on to Mr. Buchanan's (sic) station, where we got some more provisions and encamped. Very bad water.
25th. Papa and Captain Sturt read prayers at half past 10.
Copied by Miss Rita Templer, 1st November 1937.
From Library Museum & Art Gallery Archives of South Australia.
Copied again by Eardley W H Bryan 5th May 1990.
Interesting articles:
Old Bryan Wills. Will of Sir Thomas Bryan
Baron Bryan
"Baronia Anglica Concentrata"
Sir Guy Lord Bryan, K.G. from a book named "Knights Of The Order"
Bryans in "Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries."
Early Bryan Knights from Knights of Edward I, Vol 1
"History of Dorset" Woodsford
A De Bryan pedigree, from my father's cousin
Extracts from "Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls" (Wrottesley)
Various Bryan entries from Poole, Dorset, Library
More Bryan entries from various books in Poole Library
Baron Bryan from "Burke’s Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages", 1883
Letter sent by Col Gawler to his brother-in-law concerning Henry Bryan's death (Mount Bryan, S. Australia)
Diary of Col Gawler's daughter, Julia, describing the expedition when Henry Bryan died
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Genealogy Home Page,
Walkey Page, Chamberlin Page,Paske Page, Huyshe Page, Forbes Page, Montanaro Page, Reynell Page
Bryan Page Blomefield Page, Kekewich Page, Sweet Page
My e-mail address is ewh.bryan@ukonline.co.uk