Joseph Wild

Joseph Wild (1759–1837) was a British-Australian convict, explorer, shepherd, constable and conveyor. He is most recognised for his contributions to the "discovery of Canberra", Sutton Forest, Jervis Bay, Bathurst, Wildes Meadow, and the discovery of Lake George and the Molongolo River.

Early life

Wild grew up in Chester, England. During Wild's time there, the city was experiencing a period of economic deterioration. Chester's traditional economy was breaking down as manufacturing industries began to move out of the area due to lacking competitive efficiency. This left many struggling to find employment in the lead up to the turn of the century, with crime rates also accelerating. It is not known what employment Joseph held at this time. Further, no information regarding his family and childhood could be collated other than the name of his brother George Wild who also travelled to Australia as a convict.

Conviction and transportation to Australia

Wild was convicted of burglary at the Chester Gaol Delivery on 21 August 1793. Joseph received 50 lashes and spent several years in gaol, where he worked in service of the government. He was then sentenced to Transportation to Australia, departing on the Ganges in the early part of 1797. The Ganges is the boat that Joseph Wild and 202 other convicts were transported to Port Jackson on, captained by Thomas Patrickson. Despite Sir James Fitzpatricks request to have ventilators and water purifiers installed on the ship for improved health facilities, it is noted that 13 convicts still died on the voyage. The convicts departing on this ship came from all throughout England, and before departure, many spent an extended period of time in prison at Portsmouth, including Joseph Wild. Wild arrived in New South Wales on 2 June 1797 along with 202 other convicts from the United Kingdom. Only one other convict ship arrived in Australia in the same year as the Ganges, the Britannia, which transported a number of Irish convicts. As per his sentence, Wild became a servant to Robert Brown, a botanist from Scotland who took particular interest in Australian flora. From 1797 to 1810, Wild travelled with Brown westwards towards the Blue Mountains to briefly explore the interior of Australia. In this same period, Joseph also travelled to Tasmania with Brown and Adolarius Humphrey, a mineralogist, to Tasmania before he returned to New South Wales as Brown and Humphrey sailed back to England.