Chevert expedition

The Chevert expedition was a scientific expedition to collect natural history samples from New Guinea and the Torres Strait. It was led and financed by William John Macleay, the first president of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. Chevert sailed from Sydney on 18 May 1875 and returned in September that year. Scientific specimens collected included approximately 1,000 birds, 800 fish, reptiles, insects, molluscs, plants and ethnographic objects. There are conflicting accounts of the number of crew members who were present during the expedition, with certain sources there were 30 members, and others claiming 31. The scientific personnel on board were Sir William Macleay, John Brazier, William Petterd and Edward Spalding, Thomas Reedy, and William James.

In a journal article titled "Notes on the Zoological Collections made in Torres Straits and New Guinea during the cruise of the Chevert", that was composed five months after Macleay initially embarked upon the expedition, Macleay detailed scientific observations that he believed were notable. In this publication, Macleay notes that the majority of the mammals that he encountered in New Guinea, with minimal anomalies, were marsupials, he outlines similarities between avifauna in New Guinea and in Australia, discusses the abundance of reptilia in New Guinea and the lack thereof in the Torres Strait, and describes his marine mollusca collections. Upon the return of Chevert, critical comments regarding the expedition were promulgated in newspapers due to its short duration, despite an absence of communication regarding the length of the voyage. Further, condemnation was directed as Macleay, as the perception of New Guinea as a suitable colonial endeavour, which was a popular contention at the time, was a notion that he did not engage with. However, contemporary opinions that consider the expedition a scientific success exist.