Category: Australian Explorers

We live near the coast, more or less at the south eastern corner of Australia.

Coulthard’s grave. Mr Babbage burried William Coulthard in the shade of the myall tree where he died.

One of our our sons lives about a third of the way across the country. When traveling alone, it’s possible get there in two […]

G’day.
Not long back from a week traveling on a motorbike (ATV or quadbike) in outback South Australia, following the great Australian explorer, John McDouall Stuart.
I was hoping to find and camp in Stuart’s camping spot at the Elizabeth, using the bearing he gave from Bottle Hill to the trees in the Elizabeth.

The sun was set […]

Spring time wilderness trip comming up
All being well, the first day of spring, September 1, should see the start of another wilderness landcsape photography trip to the arid region of outback South Australia.

ATV trailer with boxes mounted for a try out.
Two new boxes are nearly finished. Just need some handles and a rope stopper so […]

Willaroo Lagoon as seen by John McDouall Stuart.
On his 1858 trip of exploration, John McDouall Stuart covered 2400km over four months. Three men on horse back.
John McDouall Stuart would have taken in a vista, pretty much unchanged from this as he overlooked Willaroo Lagoon, not far from Andamooka Waterhole, in outback South Australia.
Of course, there’s […]

Shoe from John McDouall Stuart’s horse.
Well, G’day. You wouldn’t read about it!
On returning to camp after the sunrise, wilderness photography session, my gaze lighted on another “stone,” fair in the middle between the bike and the tent. With a bit of a kick, a horseshoe emerged, worn and rusted.
Given that I reckon this was the […]

John McDouall Stuart camped here.
G’day.
There’s been significant erosion in the arid region due to the combined effects of overgrazing, rabbit plagues and drought.
However, in the region of Andamooka Waterhole, the damage seems to be not a severe as in some places. It seems reasonable to suppose that the landscape seen by John McDouall Stuart […]

Overlooking Andamooka Waterhole.
Studying the journals of John McDouall Stuart, one of Australia’s great explorers, has been an eye opener. Here is an extract from the journal of his trip in 1858, through outback South Australia:
Monday, 21st June, Water Creek.
Started at 9.30 a.m. on a course of 25 degrees. At a mile passed a small table-topped […]