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John Forrest, afterwards Sir John Forrest, and later Baron Forrest of Bunbury, the first Australian raised to the British Peerage, did magnificent exploration work during his early years.

At the age of 22, on his first expedition undertaken in 1869, mainly to find the remains of Leichhardt, he travelled over 2,000 miles in the interior of Western Australia. He discovered and named Lake Barlee and Mounts Ida, Leonora, Malcolm, and Margaret.

Later, Forrest, in company with his brother, Alexander, in the face of almost incredible difficulties, succeeded in finding an overland route from Perth to South Australia, completing the journey in five months.

Until his death in 1918, Lord Forrest was prominent in Australian public life. He was Premier of Western Australia for ten years and for many years represented the Swan electorate of that State, in the Federal Parliament, of which he was a foundation member.

Alexander Forrest was, for many years, a member of the Legislative Council of West Australia and for 6 years mayor of Perth and a C.M.G.

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Updated 4 August 04