John Carne Bidwill as the first Crown Lands Commissioner for the District of Wide Bay was instructed to blaze a road line between Maryborough and Brisbane. It was proposed to shorten the then route which proceeded via Ipswich and the Brisbane Valley to Nanango and thence by the Burnett waters via Booubyjan Station and over the Coast Range into the Mary waters and on to Gigoomgan Station and thence north easterly to Maryborough. It became known as The Loop. During the expedition Bidwill became lost for eight days in the scrubs of the Upper Mary Valley, until rescued (reportedly close to death) by friendly Aboriginals. Historians have long debated just where and how he became lost. This account seeks to define Bidwill’s route and offer reasons for his departure from the Mary River --- his chosen pathway to reach white settlement. The account also suggests that Bidwill may have been burdened with symptoms of an illness, not then apparent to Bidwill, which may have affected both his rationale and judgement.Jeff Lambert |
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| © Jeff Lambert 2011 - Traveston, Queensland |