Step back 150 years and this is the very adventure had by John McDouall Stuart, one of Australia’s most remarkable explorers.
This month, Alice Springs will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first time McDouall Stuart set foot in the geographical heart of Australia – he was the first European to do so. An entire week of activities has been planned as part of the National Trust’s Heritage Festival to mark this special occasion.
The week of celebrations kicks off on Sunday, April 10, in a remote area of bush 60km from Alice Springs will be a re-enactment of the moment Stuart arrived in the Centre.
Carefully reconstructed from Stuart’s own diaries, the cast members will be led by local identity and pastoralist Bill Hayes (aka John McDouall Stuart), famous in his own right after being inducted into the National Stockman’s Hall of Fame in March.
A small, wiry Scotsman, Stuart’s key factor to success was to always to travel lightly and to move quickly with his team of three men and 13 horses. Each time he faced an insurmountable barrier in his quest for the north coast, he would turn around, head south to Adelaide, regroup and try again.
“Stuart had an amazing capacity to cope with the hardships of intense heat, waterless country and poor food. He is generally regarded as the greatest of Australia’s explorers”.
“Hot on his heels from Melbourne, was the expedition led by the well known explorers Burke and Wills, and most people know the unfortunate ending that journey had.”
“Stuart finally reached the north coast of Australia on his sixth attempt in 1862 and this paved the way for the development of the remote Outback, including the Overland Telegraph Line, which connected Australia to Europe for the first time.”
The week of events runs from 10-18 April, and includes ‘Lifting the Veil’ - a rare exhibition of artifacts and items owned or used by Stuart and his party during their expeditions, at the Museum of Central Australia.
Fascinating items include a prismatic compass inscribed with Stuart’s name, a section of wood taken from the flagpole which Stuart used to hoist the Union Jack when he reached the Indian Ocean in 1862, and even some surviving beef jerky meat!
Rick Moore, President of the John McDouall Stuart Society in Adelaide will deliver the annual Doreen Braitling History Lecture, and Dr Philip Jones from the South Australian Museum will present ‘Mr Stuart’s route: Telegraph Stations and the early meeting of two cultures – 1870 to 1930’.
Tours over historic buildings will be conducted, including the oldest surviving building in Alice Springs, the Stuart Town Gaol, and a behind the scenes tour of the NT Archives will peak the interest of history buffs.
For a complete Program of Events visit www.jms.thealice.com.au
