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Robert O'Hara Burke led the first European expedition to cross Australia from south to north in 1860. Despite abundant supplies and detailed maps from Indigenous Australians, Burke's ego, impatience, and refusal to listen to local knowledge killed most of his party.
Canon
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Burke couldn't control the Australian outback. He could control his preparation, his attitude toward local knowledge, and his relationships with his team. He failed at all three.
Highlights
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Ego makes you deaf to local knowledge — Burke ignored Aboriginal Australians who knew how to survive the outback
Burke had access to detailed Indigenous knowledge about water sources, food, and routes. He refused to use it because taking advice from people he considered inferior was incompatible with his self-image as a heroic explorer.