Cooper's Creek (book)

Cooper's Creek is a non-fiction book by Australian author Alan Moorehead, first published in 1963. It recounts the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition across Australia in 1860-61, focusing on their journey from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria and, more significantly, their tragic return to Cooper's Creek where both leaders perished.

The book details the planning and execution of the expedition, highlighting the personalities of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, and exploring the factors that contributed to its failure. Moorehead delves into the inadequate preparations, poor leadership decisions, and the harsh Australian environment, all of which played crucial roles in the expedition's demise. He also examines the experiences of the other members of the party, including King, the sole survivor who remained at Cooper's Creek.

Cooper's Creek is considered a seminal work on the Burke and Wills expedition and a significant contribution to Australian historical literature. Moorehead's engaging narrative style and meticulous research brought the story to a wider audience, solidifying the expedition's place in Australian folklore as a symbol of exploration, heroism, and tragedy. The book draws on primary sources such as the diaries of Burke and Wills to provide a detailed and compelling account of their journey and ultimate fate.