Sextant
We are unsure of the exact make and model sextant used by John William Wills, but it will look like this. It would have been safely packed in a wooden box with brass hinges and corners, a lock. As this valuable navigational instrument was being carried in a pack by a Camel, no doubt it was always kept safe in its timber case and would have been buried at the Plant Camp safely stored in its hard case.
Pocket Sextant
A pocket sextant was also carried by Mr Wills and his journal clearly states that as of this moment, not more readings would be taken. Therefore it is safe to assume that this pocket sextant was also packed away safely in the trunk that was buried on the night of April 3rd 1861
Compass
All navigators would have carried several compasses and this expedition would be no different. It’s importance to explorers needs to explanation. These instruments are easily damaged and dropping them would be fatal to it’s function, so without a doubt, more than one person carried a compass and several spears would have been packed for the journey. It’s very possible at least one of these compasses is buried at the Plant Camp
telescope Large
In 1858 John William Wills was given full time work at the Magnetic Observatory at Flagstaff Hill in Melbourne. He was tasked along with his colleagues to observe stars using a large telescope and conducting general astronomical research, as well as produce meteorological reports for the city. There is mention that he was equipped with some instruments from the observatory, to use on the expedition. On the night the cache was planted, Mr Wills was observing and recording data from a star. This means he certainly had a telescope with him, and perhaps more than one. This telescope pictured in a hard case was in circulation in 1860 and possibly similar to the one used on the expedition.
Telescope Small
This smaller telescope was designed to be used on land, much like the type seen by mariners sailing the oceans. Once again like every other item, it has a hard case it packs into to keep it free from dust and damage. On the original manifest, there two “ Eye Glass” listed as part of their equipment. However this could also mean binoculars.
Chronometer
John King, the only survivor of the expedition that returned from the Gulf, said during an enquiry into the deaths of his comrades “ Mr Wills also packed his two Chronometers in the trunk buried at the Plant Camp”. A chronometer is used as an accurate time check while observing stars or the sun with a sextant. This helps produce the latitude and longitude data needed to find yourself on a map. 2 Chronometers are used on expeditions as they do tend to lose time and having two allows you to draw an average between the two, to help get a fix. once again note they are packed in timber boxes with lots of brass hinges and locks. Dr Leahy has found some of these hinges and locks in the search area. This means either the cache has been opened and scattered either by natural occurrences ( flash flood ) or human intervention. Another explanation is, the box of one of the instruments Wills carried from the Plant Camp on his 300km journey to the Copper, was left behind as it was not worth the extra weight.
Barometer
A barometer was also carried, however it seems only one was officially taken on the expedition. Mr Wills would have access to others from the observatory where he worked, so its very possible that this man of science would have had a spare. However this item would be of little use to him and Mr Burke since they were now fighting to survive with little food and water.
Map Tools
Again, Mr Wills wrote in his journal “ No more observations” after burying the instruments at the Plant Camp. Along with the instruments he would have buried, all the usual tools used to plot and map features they were finding and seeing for the first time on land, would have been buried too, like these simple dividers and rule.
Journals
John King said during the official enquiry into failed expedition that some maps and journals were also buried at the Plant Camp. Unable to carry any of the paper work gathered along the way, it seems safe to assume it was buried for later collection.
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