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Francis BARRALLIER (1773-1853)
 

Read Barrallier's Journal of the Expedition into the Interior of New South Wales in 1802.

Barrallier's father, who was a French emigré, was a surveyor in the British navy. Barrallier came to Australia in April 1800 was appointed an ensign in the New South Wales Corps in July 1800, and was made engineer and artillery officer in August 1801. In the previous March he had sailed with Lieutenant James Grant in the Lady Nelson to further explore Bass Strait, and had been responsible for the charting of Western Port and other parts of the coast, before a return was made to Sydney, which was reached on 14 May 1801.

In June 1801 a voyage with Grant was made to the Hunter River, where a survey was made by Barrallier of Coal Harbour and part of the river.

In November 1802 he was directed by Governor King to endeavour to find a way over the mountains to the west of Sydney. He did not succeed in crossing the range, but travelled a distance of 147 miles into the mountains beyond the Nepean. His finishing point was "towards the head of Christy's Creek, about 15 or 16 miles in a direct line southerly from Jenolan Caves".

In May 1803 he resigned from the New South Wales Corps and left for England.

Barrallier was a man of pleasant personality, an able engineer, and a brave and competent explorer. During his journey in the mountains he managed his small party well, was on good terms with the aborigines, and had he kept to the ridges might have succeeded in his mission.

From Dictionary of Australian Biography" by Percival Serle.