 In 1862, he headed to the Maroochy River area with a group of 25 Aboriginal people that included Ker-Walli, Wanangga and Billy Dingy.On this journey, he became the first white man to climb Buderim Mountain and also ventured up the tributaries of the Maroochy River looking to exploit the large cedar growing there.At Petrie's Creek, he established a logging camp which was run by Aboriginal labour.