Dysartian
The Birthplace of John McDouall Stuart the First Man to Cross Australia
The little white house on the right, was the home of John McDouall Stuart (born Dysart 1815) who was Australia’s most famous inland explorer as well as being an engineer and farmer. McDouall Stuart led the first expedition to reach the centre of Australia and also led the first group to cross Australia from south to north and back during 1861-1862. The slightly built Stuart suffered badly during about six expeditions across the unknown and hitherto un-mapped deserts, however, during these expeditions he never lost a man. This was in contrast to the fate of more expensive and better-equipped expeditions of the same period, one of which lost seven men. Stuart was exhausted by the privations of his journeys and died in 1866, at the age of only 51, a mere four years after his triumph. Central Mount Stuart, which is almost the geographical centre of Australia, was named after him and the town of Alice Springs was originally named Stuart in his honour. The house where he was born is now a small museum in Dysart (now part of the larger town of Kirkcaldy). Unfortunately the museum has recently closed, a victime to cost-cutting measures!. This is only one of about forty nationally listed historic houses in Dysart.
The Birthplace of John McDouall Stuart the First Man to Cross Australia
The little white house on the right, was the home of John McDouall Stuart (born Dysart 1815) who was Australia’s most famous inland explorer as well as being an engineer and farmer. McDouall Stuart led the first expedition to reach the centre of Australia and also led the first group to cross Australia from south to north and back during 1861-1862. The slightly built Stuart suffered badly during about six expeditions across the unknown and hitherto un-mapped deserts, however, during these expeditions he never lost a man. This was in contrast to the fate of more expensive and better-equipped expeditions of the same period, one of which lost seven men. Stuart was exhausted by the privations of his journeys and died in 1866, at the age of only 51, a mere four years after his triumph. Central Mount Stuart, which is almost the geographical centre of Australia, was named after him and the town of Alice Springs was originally named Stuart in his honour. The house where he was born is now a small museum in Dysart (now part of the larger town of Kirkcaldy). Unfortunately the museum has recently closed, a victime to cost-cutting measures!. This is only one of about forty nationally listed historic houses in Dysart.