Final answer:
Burke & Wills set out from Melbourne to cross the Australian continent from South to North in the year 1860. Their ill-fated expedition is an important and tragic part of Australian history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Burke & Wills Expedition Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills were explorers who embarked on an ambitious expedition to cross Australia from south to north. The correct answer to when they set out from Melbourne is a) 1860. Their journey commenced in August of that year, specifically on the 20th of August, 1860, during a time of exploration fervor in Australia. Their expedition, however, ended tragically with both Burke and Wills losing their lives due to harsh conditions and a series of misfortunes. This historical event is a significant part of Australian exploration history and is still studied and commemorated to this day.
Burke and Wills set out on their expedition to cross the continent from south to north in the year 1860. This historical journey is known as the Burke and Wills expedition, led by Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills. The expedition aimed to traverse Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. Unfortunately, the journey faced numerous challenges, including harsh conditions, lack of provisions, and poor decision-making. Burke, Wills, and several other members of the expedition tragically lost their lives. The expedition's ambitious goal and its ultimate tragedy have made it a significant chapter in Australian exploration history.