Forrest, JOHN

Forrest, JOHN, Australian explorer, was born at Bunbury in Western Australia, 22d August 1847, and from 1864 onwards was connected with the survey department of the colony. In 1869 he penetrated inland from Perth, in a north-easterly direction, as far as 123° E. long., between 28° and 29° S. lat., through a barren country of salt marshes and scraggy bushes. In the following year he showed that it was possible to reach South Australia from the west by travelling along the south coast of the continent. Along with his brother Alexander, he again made an eastward journey in 1874, setting out from Champion Bay and following generally the line of 26° S. lat. till he came to Peake Station, on the telegraph line connecting Port Darwin and Adelaide. Besides making these exploring journeys John Forrest surveyed that part of north-western Australia lying between the rivers Ashburton and De Grey in 1878, and four years later the Fitzroy district in the same region of Western Australia. He published Explorations in Australia (Lond. 1875).—His brother ALEXANDER, also an Australian explorer, was born at Bunbury, September 22, 1849. After taking part with his brother John in his journeys, he in 1879 started, along with Hill, to explore the north-western parts of the Australian continent, an expedition which resulted in the discovery of the fertile pastoral region now called Kimberley District. Besides being well watered, it was also seen to be suitable for the cultivation of such tropical harvests as sugar, coffee, and rice. At the same time the river Fitzroy was ascended for a distance of about 250 miles. This journey was described in Journal of an Expedition from the De Grey to Port Darwin (1880).