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Dalrymple Continued

George Augustus Frederick Elphinstone-Dalrymple went to Ceylon as a tea planter in the 1840’s

He arrived in Australia between 1856 and 1858

February 1859 he published in Brisbane Proposals for the Establishment of a New Pastoral Settlement in North Australia.

He organized an expedition to explore the Burdekin River watershed (Kennedy district).

Officer in charge of the proposed settlement of Bowen, Dalrymple then planned the expedition to establish the township and led the overland section. After he arrived Bowen was proclaimed on 11 April 1861.

In March 1865 he was elected the first member for Kennedy in the Legislative Assembly.

As a supporter of the Northern Separation League and its president in 1866 he was favoured as premier for the proposed new colony.

1867 - went to Britain to recover his health / was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society

Returned to Queensland in 1869 and with A. J. Bogle took up Oxford Downs (Pastoral property) on the Upper Burdekin.

The venture failed, as did his imported traction engine which proved impracticable on northern roads.

Insolvent, he was lucky to get a government post as Assistant Gold Commissioner on the Gilbert diggings in October 1871.

1873 - authorised by the Government to explore all the rivers and inlets of the little known north east coast, and to examine how far they would be navigable to small craft.  Specimens of flora were collected, and samples of soil on or near the banks examined.

Dalrymple's account of the expedition was published in 'Narrative and reports of the Queensland North-East Coast Expedition, 1873' by the Government Printer in 1874

1874 - was given charge of the government settlement at Somerset on Cape York

He sailed for Somerset in May but soon after he arrived was incapacitated by fever and a stroke.  He was taken south by mail steamer and granted leave in September.

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