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Explorers of
Australia:
JOHN McDOUALL STUART'S EXPEDITIONS
The third expedition
A prize of 2000 pounds was offered by the Government to the first European to cross the continent, forming a route for a telegraph line from Adelaide to the north coast. Stuart was fully determined to achieve this. His friends Chambers and Finke proposed an expedition led by Stuart, but instead the Government selected another expedition led by Alexander Tolmer. This expedition set off, but ended before it had even passed settled areas.
Departed August
1859
Stuart's third expedition left Adelaide to re-survey his land
at Chambers Creek. His first survey had overlapped land discovered
by Babbage and Warburton, who had travelled there after hearing
of Stuart's discoveries. Stuart was accompanied by William Darton
Kekwick, two other men, and twelve horses.
Stuart completed his own survey, then surveyed some
additional claims for his friends Chambers and Finke. Stuart then
explored the Lake Eyre region and managed to establish the northern
edge of the lake. He discovered new springs fed by waters of the
Great Artesian Basin, many creeks and grasslands. The expedition
returned to Chambers Creek, but two of the party did not wish
to continue. Kekwick travelled south to find replacements, and
returned with one man, Benjamin Head.
At this same time,
in the colony of Victoria the Burke and Wills Expedition was preparing to set off
in an attempt to cross the continent from the south to the north.
No expense had been spared for this expedition, including the
importing of camels from India.
Back
to John McDouall Stuart
Expeditions 1...2...4...5...6
If you use any part of this
in your work, acknowledge it in your bibliography like this:
John McDouall
Stuart (2002).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
Explorers of Australia
Bass & Flinders ... Burke
& Wills... Blaxland, Lawson
& Wentworth ...Eyre ...
Hume & Hovell ... Leichardt
... Mitchell ... Oxley
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