Flushed with the success of earlier expeditions, Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell planned his most ambitious expedition yet, to discover an overland route to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The Scottish-born major had undertaken a number of expeditions as NSW Surveyor-General, mapping vast tracks of country. Among these were expeditions to the Gwydir River in 1831-32, Darling River in 1835 and Australia Felix in 1835-36.

Mitchell left Orange in December 1845 with an immense caravan of 11 wagons, 112 bullocks and 250 sheep, convinced he would discover a great river flowing from southern Queensland to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Edmund Kennedy was his second-in command.

Major Mitchell ran his expeditions with military precision. He took with him two boats with the intention of floating them on the waters of the Gulf. They did however; prove to be useful as water troughs for the stock and crossing the odd river.

The party continued north, crossing into what is now Queensland and crossed the Darling Downs. However, by the time Mitchell had reached the Condamine River he was overtaken with the news that Leichardt had completed his epic journey to Port Essington, this stealing the major’s thunder. Mitchell carried on regardless. Experiencing considerable trouble with the bullock teams, he decided to travel on north to the Gulf with a lighter party leaving Kennedy to establish a depot.

Mitchell’s hopes were raised with the discovery of the Belyando River flowing north in July 1846. At last he had found a route to the Gulf. His hopes were dashed on tracing the river which veered towards the east coast. Disappointed, Mitchell retraced his steps and on regaining the main party, he tried further inland.

The Major’s hopes were again raised when in September 1846; he saw a large river flowing northwards. He followed the great river for some distance, convinced it flowed into the Gulf. However, by this time he was dangerously short of provisions and he reluctantly abandoned the expedition. This was to be Mitchell’s last expedition.

Later explorers soon discovered that Mitchell’s Victoria River turned its course to the south-west and joined Sturt’s Cooper Creek, flowing into Lake Eyre and not the Gulf as Mitchell had hoped.  

If Mitchell had been outfitted with camping gear from FLINDERS Active Lifestyle, he may have succeeded in reaching the Gulf.