Document information
Physical location:
MS 13071 Royal Society of Victoria Exploration Committee records, box 2076/4, La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 60.01.30Preferred Citation:
Joseph Jobson to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1860-01-30. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1860-9/1860/60-01-30-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
Neustead
1
Newstead, Vic.
January 30. 1860
Dr. Mueller
Sir
Learning through the medium of the newspapers that an expedition
was about to be organised for the purpose of exploring the Interior of this vast
country I beg to offer myself as a volunteer to form one of the expedition in any
capacity within the range of my capabilities. Age 23. I have been 6 years in this
country 5 of which I have been occupied in farming pursuits and consequently have
suffered not a few of the privations in travelling over tracts of bush country and
up to this date have never received any ill effects in fact I may state that I have
never experienced a days sickness as far back as I can remember. I was born and lived
untill I was sixteen years of age in close proximity with the Cheviot Hills in the
North of England. For character, sobriety, &c I can if you wish refer you to Dr Davis
of Neustead or Drs Preshaw and McGrath of Castlemaine. Apologizing for the liberty
I have taken in thus addressing you
2
The Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria eventually sent out what
became known as the Burke & Wills Exploring Expedition, 1860-1.
3
Robert O'Hara Burke did not appoint Jobson to the Expedition party; see M et al. to the Royal Society of Victoria, December 1860 (in this edition as 60-12-00).
I am Sir
Yours faithfully
Joseph Jobson