Francis Barrallier

Francis Louis Barrallier (1773 – 11 June 1853) was a French-born explorer of Australia.

Francis Barrallier was the eldest son of Jean-Louis Barrallier, a French marine engineer and Royalist supporter who escaped to the United Kingdom in 1793 during the Siege of Toulon by the Republicans. Francis arrived in Australia in April 1800 and in July 1800 the Governor of New South Wales, Philip Gidley King, appointed him as an ensign in the New South Wales Corps. He was made engineer and artillery officer in August 1801.

His first assignment was to design the Parramatta orphan asylum building. In March 1801 he sailed with Lieutenant James Grant in the Lady Nelson to further explore Bass Strait, and was responsible for the charting of Western Port and other parts of the coast. Barrallier's work on the maps of Jervis Bay, Western Port and some of Bass Strait were recognised by Governor Philip Gidley King, who made him engineer and artillery officer in the Corps.

In June a voyage with Grant was made to the Hunter River, where Barrallier made a survey of Coal Harbour and part of the river.

In October–November 1802 he was directed by Governor King to try to find a way over Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney. He travelled about 140 miles in seven weeks, but had to turn back - at one stage due to unfriendly Aborigines, and later due to a lack of supplies. He did not succeed in crossing the range. His finishing point was "towards the head of Christy's Creek, about 15 or 16 miles in a direct line southerly from Jenolan Caves".

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