Joseph Wild

Joseph Wild was a legendary bushman, an ex-convict who became an explorer in his own right. He arrived in 1797 with a life sentence, but received a ticket of leave, and in 1817 was employed by Dr Charles Throsby as a herdsman. He lived in a hut below Christ Church, but travelled with him on many exploratory missions. He received a grant of 100 acres in recognition of his work and Wildes Meadow is named after him. In 1818, he pushed over the Illawarra range into Kangaroo Valley. In 1820, Dr Throsby sent him to explore south of Sutton Forest and is credited with the European discovery of Lake George and the “Limestone Plains”- site of present day Canberra. He helped Charles Throsby supervise building of the Old South Road from (Picton) to the highlands 1820. He died in 1847 when gored by a bull in the Wingecarribee Swamp.