Evans discovered the site of Bathurst on December 9, 1813, and named Bathurst Plains the next day. On his return Evans sent his journal to Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who had commissioned him to complete the crossing of The Great Dividing Range and discover what lay to the west. This was the start of the opening up of inland Australia.

Each day for the next three weeks we will reproduce Evans diary for the corresponding day exactly 200 years ago.

Evans had five men with him. The party included James Burns who had been with Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson earlier that year and so acted as a guide. Another freeman Richard Lewis was present, along with convicts John Tighe, John Grover and John Coogan.

They travelled light but with horses, and slept each night in the open, or under rough brush or bark lean-to’s.

Evans achievement was celebrated one hundred years later with a fine bronze statue in King’s Parade in the centre of Bathurst, along with monuments at Lawson and near Rydal.

DAY 1: Evans crosses the Neapean River 

Today 200 years ago, the start of an adventure – Evans seems to be a doughty man of few words 

Friday, November 19th

I directed the Provisions and other necessarys to be conveyed across the Nepean to the N.E.  Point of Forest Land, commonly called Emu Island, which was done, and by the time every thing was arranged Evening approached.