Adelaide Victoria Square-Statue of John McDouall Stuart explorer who lead The South Australian Great Northern Expedition 1861–62 Adelaide to Indian Ocean. South Australia
John McDouall Stuart, an explorer and leader of men: he was Commander of The South Australian Great Northern Expedition 1861–62.
Stuart migrated to South Australia in 1839: suffering ill health he returned to England where he died in June 1866.
McDOUALL STUART STATUE UNVEILING CEREMONY. SURVIVORS OF STUART'S EXPEDITION ABSENT
All tramcar and other traffic in the vicinity of the statue was temporarily held up, so that the guests of the society and the public generally might witness the proceedings in comfort. Immediately at the base of the statue which stands in a niche of Victoria square at the intersection of King William and Flinders Street, a platform was erected for the accommodation of those who were to take a prominent part in the ceremony. King William road was spanned by a string of flags and further colour was imparted to the scene by the gorgeous kilts of the Scottish Company, who paraded under Capt Smeaton and Lieuts Sutherland and Clark. The soldiers surrounded the barrier, within which the holders of invitation cards were admitted.
Every window of the Government offices in the vicinity framed a head or a camera, and there was a good attendance of the public, whom the Piper's Band, under Pipe-Mjr McLennan, entertained at intervals.
Altogether, from a spectacular point of view, the ceremony was a fitting one, but in other respects there were distinct draw-backs. The seat of honour, covered by a Union Jack, was empty. In other words, the survivors of Stuart's party were conspicuous by their absence. No member of the Government attended, while no members of the South Australian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society were present in a representative capacity.
Among those on the platform were members of the council of the Caledonian Society and the statue committee, members of the Adelaide Corporation, including the Mayor: Sir Charles Todd, who directed the construction of the overland telegraph line: Sir Edwin Smith, Mr John Darling sen (Past Chief), Mr John Darling jun MP (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon J H Howe MLC (Past Chief), Mr G Fowler Stewart (Past Chief), and Mr H T Morris (a pioneer of 1836), Mr A J McLachlan (Chairman of the statue committee).
The matter of a statue was taken up in 1896 and money was raised. For years nothing was done.
In May, 1901, the Caledonian Society were approached, and ultimately decided to take the matter in hand, provided the subscriptions already collected were handed over, and the society given an absolutely free hand in the management of the movement. This was done, and late in July 1901, the society formally took over the funds.
The society got together a sum of £800 altogether, exclusive of the amount received from the old committee. The consummation of the work was then well within their view.
A design submitted by William Maxwell of Adelaide was chosen. Funds were given by the state government and members of the public.
William Maxwell died in 1903, so his design was executed over six months by several men, led by James White of Sydney.
Messrs Davies & Rutt, architects, superintended the erection of the pedestal.
Mr Walter C Torode was contractor for the whole work of erection.
Despite some dissension and misunderstandings within the Adelaide community Stuart’s statue was finally unveiled by Mr A L McLachan (Chairman of the Statue Committee.
None of the four surviving members of Stuart’s final expedition attended the ceremony. They had written to the Caledonian Society protesting against the selection of Maxwell’s design, arguing that it bore no resemblance to the man, that it represented Stuart ‘from a mere artistic point’. They wrote: ‘for the public and posterity we would like Stuart to appear as the typical bushman he undoubtedly was’.
John McDouall Stuart 1815–1866, explorer, was born 7 September at Dysart, Fife, Scotland, fifth son of William Stuart an army captain and his wife Mary, nee McDouall.
Educated at the Scottish Naval and Military Academy, Edinburgh, in 1838 he decided to migrate to South Australia. He arrived in the ‘Indus’ in January 1839 and joined a surveying party. Having had a taste of the outback, in 1844 he accepted Charles Sturt’s offer to join a party exploring the centre of the continent: he became familiar with the topography of the centre.
In 1846–58 Stuart practised as a surveyor, had an estate agency and spent time at Port Lincoln. With financial help from William Finke, Stuart set out 14 May 1858 with an assistant, an Aboriginal tracker and provisions for four weeks to explore beyond Lake Torrens and Lake Gairdner and to look for grazing land. He travelled to Coober Pedy before turning south and then west.
The Aboriginal left them 3 August and with supplies and water almost exhausted and the horses lame they struggled into T M Gibson’s outstation at Streaky Bay on 22 August. After ten days rest Stuart returned to Adelaide to an enthusiastic welcome. He had covered 40,000 sq miles (104,600 km²) of possible sheep country at minimal cost.
Stuart gave his diary and maps to the South Australian government and was granted a lease of 1000 sq miles (2590 km²) of the new country.
In 1859 Finke and James Chambers financed another expedition. Stuart, with four others, travelled 500 miles blazing a trail with sufficient water for a permanent route north. November fourth saw him (third expedition) surveying new runs.
In the Davenport Range he found signs of gold, and after unsuccessful prospecting his men rebelled and the party returned to Chambers Creek where all but William Kekwick were paid off.
2 March 1860 Stuart set off again with two men and thirteen horses. Most of their provisions were spoiled by floods. When the party reached the freshwater creek that Stuart named after Finke 4 April, they were suffering from scurvy and he had lost the sight of his right eye. They followed the Finke to the mountains Stuart name after Governor MacDonnell and headed north again, naming Anna’s Reservoir after Chambers’ youngest daughter. 22 april he camped where he calculated the centre of the continent to be He named Central Mount Sturt (later Stuart) and planted a flag. In May they travelled north to Tennant’s Creek. Proceeding to Kekwick Ponds Stuart tried to penetrate the nearby scrub but on 26 June was forced back. Two months later the party staggered into Chambers Creek.
On his return to Adelaide Stuart was feted at a public banquet and at Government House.
At the end of 1860 the South Australian Government voted £2500 to equip a large expedition to be led by Stuart. On 1 January 1861 he left Chambers Creek with eleven men and reached Attack Creek late in April: with two others he found a way through the scrub that had defeated him before, to Sturt’s Plain. After failing to pass the plains, with their provisions low Stuart gave in and returned to Adelaide 23 September. He received the 1861 gold medal of the Royal Geographic Society from the governor.
Stuart was still convinced he could cross the continent. Shopkeepers gave him supplies for a fresh party, Chambers provided the horses and saddlery, government gave him £200 and instructed him to take a botanist, Frederick George Waterhouse .
They left Adelaide at the end of October 1861 but Stuart was delayed for five weeks by an accident: he joined the party at Moolooloo Station were one of the men left after a quarrel.
The party reached the centre on 12 March 1862, Attack Creek on the 28th and Sturt’s Plain on 15 April where they were blocked and turned to the scrub. They arrived Daly Waters, named after the new governor, 28 May and made camp for two weeks. On 24 July they forced their way through a thick belt of scrub and came upon the Indian Ocean.
Many of the horses were so weak they had to be abandoned on the way back. Ill with scurvy and nearly blind, Stuart had to be carried on a stretcher slung between two horses, recovering sufficiently to ride by the time they reached Mount Margaret on 26 November.
At Burra, on 16 December 1862, from the Kooringa Post and Telegraph Station Stuart sent the following telegram to Hon Commissioner of Crown Lands “Through you I beg to inform His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and the Government that I have accomplished the object of expedition. Party behind all well. I will be in by the evening train tomorrow.”
And so ended The South Australian Great Northern Expedition 1861–62.
References:-
Deidre Morris. Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, (Melbourne University Press), 1976.
Burra, South Australia. John McDouall Stuart Society commemoration plaque on Kooringa Post & Telegraph office wall.
Register (Adelaide) Monday 6 June 1904.
Jude Elton and Mandy Paul History Trust of South Australia
Adelaide Victoria Square-Statue of John McDouall Stuart explorer who lead The South Australian Great Northern Expedition 1861–62 Adelaide to Indian Ocean. South Australia
John McDouall Stuart, an explorer and leader of men: he was Commander of The South Australian Great Northern Expedition 1861–62.
Stuart migrated to South Australia in 1839: suffering ill health he returned to England where he died in June 1866.
McDOUALL STUART STATUE UNVEILING CEREMONY. SURVIVORS OF STUART'S EXPEDITION ABSENT
All tramcar and other traffic in the vicinity of the statue was temporarily held up, so that the guests of the society and the public generally might witness the proceedings in comfort. Immediately at the base of the statue which stands in a niche of Victoria square at the intersection of King William and Flinders Street, a platform was erected for the accommodation of those who were to take a prominent part in the ceremony. King William road was spanned by a string of flags and further colour was imparted to the scene by the gorgeous kilts of the Scottish Company, who paraded under Capt Smeaton and Lieuts Sutherland and Clark. The soldiers surrounded the barrier, within which the holders of invitation cards were admitted.
Every window of the Government offices in the vicinity framed a head or a camera, and there was a good attendance of the public, whom the Piper's Band, under Pipe-Mjr McLennan, entertained at intervals.
Altogether, from a spectacular point of view, the ceremony was a fitting one, but in other respects there were distinct draw-backs. The seat of honour, covered by a Union Jack, was empty. In other words, the survivors of Stuart's party were conspicuous by their absence. No member of the Government attended, while no members of the South Australian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society were present in a representative capacity.
Among those on the platform were members of the council of the Caledonian Society and the statue committee, members of the Adelaide Corporation, including the Mayor: Sir Charles Todd, who directed the construction of the overland telegraph line: Sir Edwin Smith, Mr John Darling sen (Past Chief), Mr John Darling jun MP (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon J H Howe MLC (Past Chief), Mr G Fowler Stewart (Past Chief), and Mr H T Morris (a pioneer of 1836), Mr A J McLachlan (Chairman of the statue committee).
The matter of a statue was taken up in 1896 and money was raised. For years nothing was done.
In May, 1901, the Caledonian Society were approached, and ultimately decided to take the matter in hand, provided the subscriptions already collected were handed over, and the society given an absolutely free hand in the management of the movement. This was done, and late in July 1901, the society formally took over the funds.
The society got together a sum of £800 altogether, exclusive of the amount received from the old committee. The consummation of the work was then well within their view.
A design submitted by William Maxwell of Adelaide was chosen. Funds were given by the state government and members of the public.
William Maxwell died in 1903, so his design was executed over six months by several men, led by James White of Sydney.
Messrs Davies & Rutt, architects, superintended the erection of the pedestal.
Mr Walter C Torode was contractor for the whole work of erection.
Despite some dissension and misunderstandings within the Adelaide community Stuart’s statue was finally unveiled by Mr A L McLachan (Chairman of the Statue Committee.
None of the four surviving members of Stuart’s final expedition attended the ceremony. They had written to the Caledonian Society protesting against the selection of Maxwell’s design, arguing that it bore no resemblance to the man, that it represented Stuart ‘from a mere artistic point’. They wrote: ‘for the public and posterity we would like Stuart to appear as the typical bushman he undoubtedly was’.
John McDouall Stuart 1815–1866, explorer, was born 7 September at Dysart, Fife, Scotland, fifth son of William Stuart an army captain and his wife Mary, nee McDouall.
Educated at the Scottish Naval and Military Academy, Edinburgh, in 1838 he decided to migrate to South Australia. He arrived in the ‘Indus’ in January 1839 and joined a surveying party. Having had a taste of the outback, in 1844 he accepted Charles Sturt’s offer to join a party exploring the centre of the continent: he became familiar with the topography of the centre.
In 1846–58 Stuart practised as a surveyor, had an estate agency and spent time at Port Lincoln. With financial help from William Finke, Stuart set out 14 May 1858 with an assistant, an Aboriginal tracker and provisions for four weeks to explore beyond Lake Torrens and Lake Gairdner and to look for grazing land. He travelled to Coober Pedy before turning south and then west.
The Aboriginal left them 3 August and with supplies and water almost exhausted and the horses lame they struggled into T M Gibson’s outstation at Streaky Bay on 22 August. After ten days rest Stuart returned to Adelaide to an enthusiastic welcome. He had covered 40,000 sq miles (104,600 km²) of possible sheep country at minimal cost.
Stuart gave his diary and maps to the South Australian government and was granted a lease of 1000 sq miles (2590 km²) of the new country.
In 1859 Finke and James Chambers financed another expedition. Stuart, with four others, travelled 500 miles blazing a trail with sufficient water for a permanent route north. November fourth saw him (third expedition) surveying new runs.
In the Davenport Range he found signs of gold, and after unsuccessful prospecting his men rebelled and the party returned to Chambers Creek where all but William Kekwick were paid off.
2 March 1860 Stuart set off again with two men and thirteen horses. Most of their provisions were spoiled by floods. When the party reached the freshwater creek that Stuart named after Finke 4 April, they were suffering from scurvy and he had lost the sight of his right eye. They followed the Finke to the mountains Stuart name after Governor MacDonnell and headed north again, naming Anna’s Reservoir after Chambers’ youngest daughter. 22 april he camped where he calculated the centre of the continent to be He named Central Mount Sturt (later Stuart) and planted a flag. In May they travelled north to Tennant’s Creek. Proceeding to Kekwick Ponds Stuart tried to penetrate the nearby scrub but on 26 June was forced back. Two months later the party staggered into Chambers Creek.
On his return to Adelaide Stuart was feted at a public banquet and at Government House.
At the end of 1860 the South Australian Government voted £2500 to equip a large expedition to be led by Stuart. On 1 January 1861 he left Chambers Creek with eleven men and reached Attack Creek late in April: with two others he found a way through the scrub that had defeated him before, to Sturt’s Plain. After failing to pass the plains, with their provisions low Stuart gave in and returned to Adelaide 23 September. He received the 1861 gold medal of the Royal Geographic Society from the governor.
Stuart was still convinced he could cross the continent. Shopkeepers gave him supplies for a fresh party, Chambers provided the horses and saddlery, government gave him £200 and instructed him to take a botanist, Frederick George Waterhouse .
They left Adelaide at the end of October 1861 but Stuart was delayed for five weeks by an accident: he joined the party at Moolooloo Station were one of the men left after a quarrel.
The party reached the centre on 12 March 1862, Attack Creek on the 28th and Sturt’s Plain on 15 April where they were blocked and turned to the scrub. They arrived Daly Waters, named after the new governor, 28 May and made camp for two weeks. On 24 July they forced their way through a thick belt of scrub and came upon the Indian Ocean.
Many of the horses were so weak they had to be abandoned on the way back. Ill with scurvy and nearly blind, Stuart had to be carried on a stretcher slung between two horses, recovering sufficiently to ride by the time they reached Mount Margaret on 26 November.
At Burra, on 16 December 1862, from the Kooringa Post and Telegraph Station Stuart sent the following telegram to Hon Commissioner of Crown Lands “Through you I beg to inform His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and the Government that I have accomplished the object of expedition. Party behind all well. I will be in by the evening train tomorrow.”
And so ended The South Australian Great Northern Expedition 1861–62.
References:-
Deidre Morris. Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, (Melbourne University Press), 1976.
Burra, South Australia. John McDouall Stuart Society commemoration plaque on Kooringa Post & Telegraph office wall.
Register (Adelaide) Monday 6 June 1904.
Jude Elton and Mandy Paul History Trust of South Australia