Tuesday, 31 August 1858.
In August 1858, Ambrose Kyte anonymously offered to donate £1,000 towards exploration. A public meeting was held at the Mechanics Institute on Collins-street, and it was agreed to form an additional committee, The Exploration Fund Raising Committee. This committee was ostensibly separate to the Philosophical Institute of Victoria and their Exploration Committee, yet six of the seven members of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee were also members of the Exploration Committee.

This meeting was reported in the press the following day, 1st September 1858, and subsequently the meeting is often referred to as having been held on this date.

Thursday?, 3 September 1858.
The Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria met to consider the public meeting held to elect the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.

Monday, 6 September 1858.
First meeting of a committee [Exploration Fund Raising Committee] on the subject of Australian Exploration, held in the Mechanics Institute.
Present: Stawell (chair), Macadam, Mueller, McCoy, Hodgson, Smith. [Absent: Wilkie].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p.1. Minutes of the first meeting of the EFC, 6 Sept 1858.

Monday, 13 September 1858.
Second meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Stawell (chair), Macadam, Mueller, McCoy, Hodgson, Smith. [Absent: Wilkie].

Related archives:
SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1c, RSV EC minute book 1858-61, 1 bound volume, ms., pages not numbered.

• Minutes of the meeting of the EFC, 13 September 1858.
• [Another copy of] Minutes of the meeting of the EFC, 13 September 1858.

SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 9. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 13 September 1858.

SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1a, RSV EC minutes 1857-1858.

• Extract of minutes of the meeting of the EFC, 6 September 1858, signed Stawell and dated 13 September 1858. 1 p.

Tuesday, 14 September 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Stawell, Mueller, McCoy, Hodgson, Smith. [Absent: Macadam, Wilkie].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 9. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 14 September 1858.

Monday, 20 September 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Mueller, McCoy, Hodgson, Smith. [Absent: Stawell, Macadam, Wilkie].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 9. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 20 September 1858.

Monday, 27 September 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Stawell, Macadam, Hodgson. [Absent: Mueller, McCoy, Wilkie, Smith].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 11. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 27 September 1858.

Note: Between October and December 1858, the Exploration Committee and the Exploration Fund Raising Committee held a number of joint meetings:

Monday, 11 October 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Stawell, Hodgson, McCoy, Macadam. [Absent: Wilkie, Mueller, Smith].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1c, RSV EC minute book 1858-61, 1 bound volume, ms., pages not numbered.

• Minutes of the meeting of the EFC, 11 October 1858.

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 13. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 11 October 1858.

Monday, 25 October 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Hodgson, Mueller, Wilkie, Macadam. [Absent: Stawell, McCoy, Smith].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1c, RSV EC minute book 1858-61, 1 bound volume, ms., pages not numbered.

• Minutes of the meeting of the EFC, 25 October 1858.

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 15. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 25 October 1858.

Monday, 8 November 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee, held at 3.00 pm at the Mechanic's Institute.
Present: Stawell (chair).
See: Age, 9 November 1858, p. 5.

Charles Whybrow Ligar was appointed to the Exploration Committee to replace Clarke who was out of the colony.

It was agreed that meetings would be held three times a week, and that meetings would be advertised in the press.

Hodgson read a list of names of members of Parliament and other interested people who should be appointed as Committee members. Seconded by Bleasdale and carried unanimously.

Thursday, 11 November 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Hodgson, Wilkie, Macadam. [Absent: Stawell, Mueller, Smith, McCoy]. Also present were as Messrs. Becker, Thomas Dickson and Woods.

Collection books were issued to Committee members with the following memo typescript on the inside page:

Central Committee
Exploration Fund Committee
Melbourne, 11 November 1858.

Sir, I have the honor to inform you that, at a Public Meeting held in the Mechanic's Institution, on the 8th Inst., you were elected a Member of the above Committee, I enclose you a Collecting Book, and the Committee at a meeting held this day, considered it very desirable that each Member would use his every endeavour to secure the sum, at least, of Twenty-Five pounds.

Your aid in the accomplishment of this is earnestly requested.

The Committee will meet every Monday and Thursday at two o'clock pm precisely in the Mechanic's Institute, Collins-street, at which your presence, when convenient, would be esteemed a favor.

Subscriptions may be paid to the Hon Treasurer, viz: The Hon Dr Wilkie MLC, Collins-street, or placed to the credit of the Committee's account with the Bank of Victoria. The Committee will also be glad to receive Subscriptions at their meetings. In whatever way the sums be paid, a list of the contributors, for publication, is requested to be forwarded to _______.

Sir,
Your obedient servant,
John Macadam MD., Hon Sec.

Related archives:
SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1c, RSV EC minute book 1858-61, 1 bound volume, ms., pages not numbered.

• Minutes of the meeting of the EFC, 11 November 1858. Circular to be distributed with collecting books to enlarged committee, from 'Central Committee'.

SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 18. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 11 November 1858.

SLV MS13071, Box 2075/4a, Collecting booklets. Including 7 booklets recording the names of subscribers and the amount subscribed. 7 bound volumes.

• Volume 1, Dr Wilkie, Number 118.
• Volume 2, Dr Macadam, Number 108.
• Volume 3. Dr Wilkie, Number 31.
• Volume 4, James Anderson.
• Volume 5, J Judd Esq, Number 10.
• Volume 6, W O Hodgkinson, Number 16?
• Volume 7, John O’Grady & W O Hodgkinson, Number 45.

Saturday, 13 November 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Hodgson, Wilkie, Macadam, Woods. [Absent: Stawell, Smith, Mueller, McCoy].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 19. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 13 November 1858.

[c. Monday, 15] November 1858.
A joint meeting of the Exploration Committee and the Exploration Fund Raising Committee was held.

Present EC: Hodgson, Macadam, Wilkie. (3 of 6).
Present EFC: Hodgson, Macadam, Wilkie, Iffla, Knaggs, McKenna, Mueller, Bleasdale, Rawlinson, Gilbee, Dobson (11 of 25).

Wilkie moved, seconded by Iffla, that Hodgson take the chair.

The joint meeting discussed drafting a statement for the Government asking for money to set up an expedition and advising the expedition waits for the arrival of the camels.

Wilkie thought the expedition could start in March 1859 before the camels arrived as it was too much to wait until March 1860. Bleasdale thought the depot could be established in 1859 ready for the great expedition of 1860.

Mueller thought the camels would arrive in May 1859 and moved, seconded by Macadam, that the expedition be delayed until the arrival of the camels and in the meantime the Committee raise funds and proceed with arrangements. -Carried.

Bleasdale moved, seconded by Dobree, that depots should be established with the least possible delay so that the expedition could move into the unknown country once the camels arrived. -Carried.

Rawlinson moved, seconded by Knaggs, that NSW and SA be invited to co-operate. Wilkie opposed this amendment and moved that the expedition be undertaken by the colony of Victoria. Mueller seconded this and was sure the Government would aid the expedition liberally. Iffla thought the wealthiest colony should be able and willing to carry out the expedition alone. McKenna referred to the overland telegraph from India to Victoria and thought co-operation was advisable, Knaggs agreed although he did not expect other colonies to provide funds. Rawlinson thought they should provide funds, but withdrew his motion. Amendment carried.

McKenna moved, seconded by Iffla, that a committee of Wilkie, Macadam and Mueller draft a statement of resolutions to present to the government. -Carried.

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1c, RSV EC minute book 1858-61, 1 bound volume, ms., pages not numbered.

• Minutes of the joint meeting of the EC and EFC, not dated. (c. Nov 1858)
• Minutes of the meeting, 15 November 1858.

Thursday, 18 November 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Hodgson, Macadam, Wilkie, Woods. [Absent: Stawell, Smith, Mueller, McCoy].

Related archives:
SLV MS13071, Box 2075/1c, RSV EC minute book 1858-61, 1 bound volume, ms., pages not numbered.

• Minutes of the meeting, 18 November 1858.

SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 20. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 18 November 1858.

Monday, 22 November 1858.
Meeting?

Thursday, 25 November 1858.
Meeting?

Friday, 26 November 1858.
Argus - A deputation from the Committee of the Exploration Fund commenced the canvass of the city yesterday, and obtained contributions to the amount of £120.

Monday, 29 November 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Hodgson. No quorum. (See Argus, 30 November 1858, p4 col. 5). It was decided that meetings would be held bi-weekly.

Thursday, 9 December 1858.
Meeting of the Exploration Fund Raising Committee.
Present: Hodgson, McCoy, Wilkie, Smith, Macadam and Dr Brownless. [Absent: Stawell, Mueller].

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 21. Minutes of the EFC meeting, 9 December 1858.

Tuesday, 26 July 1859.
Related archives:
SLV MS13071, Box 2075/4b: Theatre Royal tickets, including 13 tickets for a Dramatic Performance in aid of the Exploration Fund, 26 July 1859.

Related archives:
SLV MS13071 Box 2075/4a: Collecting booklets. Including 7 booklets recording the names of subscribers and the amount subscribed. 7 bound volumes.

• Volume 1, Dr Wilkie, Number 118.
• Volume 2, Dr Macadam, Number 108.
• Volume 3. Dr Wilkie, Number 31.
• Volume 4, James Anderson.
• Volume 5, J Judd Esq, Number 10.
• Volume 6, W O Hodgkinson, Number 16?
• Volume 7, John O’Grady & W O Hodgkinson, Number 45.

SLV MS1071 Box 2075/4c: Bank of Victoria pass book. Passbook of the Exploration Fund, 9 December 1858-10 March 1863. Dr Wilkie, Treasurer. 1 bound volume.