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John Oxley was born in England and sailed to Australia as a surveyor with the Royal Navy in 1801. He was appointed Surveyor-General of New South Wales in 1812.

John Oxley led three important expeditions.

First expedition Ordered to do so by Governor Macquarie in 1817, Oxley, with explorer George Evans as second in command, led an expedition to follow the Lachlan River. Oxley surveyed and mapped the river and discovered good grazing land west of Bathurst. When swamps blocked his way Oxley led the explorers north and returned to Bathurst, following the Macquarie River.In 1817, he led an expedition to trace the course of the Lachlan River. He had been asked by Governor Macquarie to cross the ranges and follow up on the discoveries of George Evans. Some of the party rode horses and others used boats. Oxley followed the Lachlan, surveying and mapping its course, until his way was blocked by swamps. Leaving the boats, the explorers travelled south-west, only to find very harsh conditions in dry country. Weakened horses began dying and the men were forced to eat dingo and snake to keep alive. So he turned north until he struck the Macquarie River. They followed the Macquarie upstream and arrived in Bathurst on 29 August 1817. Oxley came to the conclusion that "the interior of this vast country is a marsh and uninhabitable". He did not know that he was a few days march from the Murrumbidgee River which would have led him to large areas of good land.John Oxley, Surveyor-General of New South Wales, set out in 1817 to discover the course of the Lachlan River. Following the river downstream past the present site of Forbes, he found that it flowed into marshland and, unable to proceed further, decided to strike out for the South Australian coast. Shortage of water forced his return to the Lachlan, which he rejoined below the marshes previously encountered, but only to meet more marshland further on. Oxley decided to turn back and, leaving the Lachlan, crossed the Bogan River and followed the upper waters of the Macquarie back to Bathurst. In 1818, Oxley led an expedition to investigate the Macquarie River, but again marshland impeded the progress of his party. Considering this to be the termination of the river, he marched eastward and reached Port Macquarie, having discovered the Castlereagh and Peel Rivers and the rich and fertile Liverpool Plains.This is the end thank you John Oxley, Surveyor-General of New South Wales, set out in 1817 to discover the course of the Lachlan River. Following the river downstream past the present site of Forbes, he found that it flowed into marshland and, unable to proceed further, decided to strike out for the South Australian coast. Shortage of water forced his return to the Lachlan, which he rejoined below the marshes previously encountered, but only to meet more marshland further on. Oxley decided to turn back and, leaving the Lachlan, crossed the Bogan River and followed the upper waters of the Macquarie back to Bathurst. In 1818, Oxley led an expedition to investigate the Macquarie River, but again marshland impeded the progress of his party. Considering this to be the termination of the river, he marched eastward and reached Port Macquarie, having discovered the Castlereagh and Peel Rivers and the rich and fertile Liverpool Plains.