Charles Sturt

Charles Sturt was born in India. His father was a judge there. When he was older, he became an army Captain. He was given the job of escorting convicts from England to Australia. He landed in Australia in 1827.

Sturt earned the respect of the Governor of New South Wales and was promoted to the position of Major. He developed a great love for the land of Australia and became interested in exploring. In 1828, Sturt began his first expedition. He would complete two further expeditions in 1829, and the other much later in 1844.

Australia owes much to Charles Sturt. On his expeditions, he discovered and mapped the Murray and Darling Rivers. He also opened up much of the southern region of Australia to free settlement.

Sturt had an "unshakeable faith in God". He committed every day of exploring to God and he always asked for God's guidance.

He was very passionate about making sure the rights of Aborigines were looked after. In 1834, he wrote to the Colonial Office urging them to make sure the Aborigines were protected because they were also children of God.

Sturt's committment to God and belief that Australia should be a Godly country is stated in this quote:

"May the inhabitants of South Australia continue to deserve and to receive the protection of that Almighty power, on whose will the existence of nations as well as that of individuals depends!"