Author: John McDouall Stuart

Publisher:

Published: 1863

Total Pages: 114

ISBN-13:

First edition: John McDouall Stuart’s fifth and sixth expeditions across central Australia. The expedition of 1861, Stuart’s fifth major venture into the interior, was a failure. Nonetheless Stuart set forth on his sixth expedition in October 1861 and won the distinction of leading the first successful expedition from the south of the continent to the Indian ocean in the north – and living to tell the tale. Burke and Wills, in their over-hasty dash from Cooper’s Creek had in fact beaten Stuart in crossing the continent but paid a heavy price for their impatience. Notwithstanding, Stuart himself was debilitated by fatigue and scurvy; he spent much of the return journey strung on a stretcher between two horses before returning to a hero’s welcome at Adelaide in December 1862. Of special interest is the large Melbourne-printed lithographed map that accompanies this volume. The map was prepared by the Government printer from Stuart’s journals, tracing the paths of the expeditions of 1861 and 1862 (and previous exploration of the region by Ludwig Leichhardt). The 1862 expedition transects the map from south to north, its torturous path beginning at the Ashburton ranges, then northwards to Daly waters followed by the Roper and Adelaide rivers. Sketch details are provided of the coastline and Melville Island, including the location near Cape Hotham where Stuart’s expedition reached the sea and planted their flag. Australian Rare Books notes that the paper stock used for this edition is prone to heavy foxing: ‘Experience has shown that the text of most – if not all – copies of the 1863 Melbourne Stuart is badly foxed and discoloured, and so collectors should not shun what may seem at first sight an inferior copy.’