Ludwig - where are you?

Truth is stranger than fiction they reckon.

So it is with one of Australia's finest mysteries, though this one has the final chapter yet to be revealed.

Ludwig Leichhardt went on an expedition in 1848 from the Condamine River in Queensland and headed to the Swan River Colony in Western Australia. He has not been seen again. Almost all traces of his journey have vanished, his men, his animals, and his equipment.

Except one item, a name plate, "The Leichhardt Plate", which was apparently was affixed to a rifle butt which was found around the area where the Tanami meets the Great Sandy Desert, leaning against a Boab tree.

Darrel Lewis has published a new book about this on the back of his very interesting paper published several years ago. It is called "Where is Dr Leichhardt?"

I think one day other artefacts will be found - I guess the reason why it is taking some time is that Leichhardt may have ended up in an area that is still quite remote and isolated.

UK Guardian Article

National Museum Info

I went to Canberra a few years ago and was privileged to have a private viewing of the famous nameplate, I wanted to pick it up in my hands but I wasn't allowed to.



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