Wylie, an Aboriginal man from Albany, in Western Australia, accompanied Edward John Eyre on his journey of exploration from Fowlers Bay, in South Australia, to Albany, in 1841. Eyre started out on February 25 with another European, named Baxter, and three Aboriginal men. On April 29, when they were on the cliffs above the Great Australian Bight, two of the Aboriginal men murdered Baxter and left with most of the supplies and ammunition.
Eyre and Wylie continued the journey toward Albany under appalling conditions of heat and thirst. By chance, they met a French whaling ship at Rossiter Bay. With rest and fresh supplies, they reached Albany. Wylie was rewarded and was treated as a hero by the Aboriginal people of Albany.
See also Aboriginal peoples of Australia and Eyre, Edward John.
