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150th Anniversary of John McDouall Stuart's 1860 Expedition to Central Australia |
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2010 is the 150th anniversary of John McDouall Stuart’s first expedition to Central Australia. He was accompanied by William Kekwick and Benjamin Head.
On 11 April 1860 they camped at Owen Springs on the Hugh River, 50 kilometres west of Alice Springs. They crossed the MacDonnell Ranges at Brinkley Bluff on 14 April and headed for the Hamilton Downs area. On 22 April they reached Central Mount Stuart, in the centre of the continent. There they built a cone of stones with a pole in the middle to which Stuart attached a Union Jack.
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John McDouall Stuart’s 1860 expedition to the Centre |
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 Compiled By Stuart Traynor, September 2009
Download the map of John McDouall Stuart's 1860 expedition (.pdf 210KB). Thanks to Bob Kessing for the map.
2 March - John McDouall Stuart, William Kekwick and Benjamin Head leave Chambers Creek in SA with 13 horses.
2 April - Crossed the 26th parallel of latitude: the SA/NT border.
4 April - Reached a major watercourse which Stuart named the Finke River.
6 April - Arrived at Chambers Pillar.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 28 February 2010 10:53 )
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2010 Program of Events |
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National Trust's Heritage Week, April 10 - 19, 2010 
Download the National Trust 2010 Heritage Festival Brochure here.
Heritage Week 2010 and the 150th anniversary of John McDouall Stuart’s first expedition to Central Australia in April 1860 events.
From the beginning of April until June
Lifting the Veil – an exhibition celebrating 150 years since the Stuart expedition to Central Australia 1860
Venue: Museum of Central Australia, Araluen Cultural Precinct
Sponsor: Museums and art Galleries of the Northern Territory
The Museum of Central Australia will present a temporary exhibition displaying a number of unique items owned or used by John McDouall Stuart and his expedition members during their attempts to cross Australia from south to north between 1858 and 1862.
Special activities in the Alice Springs Town Library all week
For the duration of the week there will be book displays and special activities relating to John McDouall Stuart. Drop in to the library or ring 8950 055 to find out what's on each day. There will be activities for children, treasure trails through the library for youth, stories about Stuart's arrival and ‘indigenous perspectives’ story-telling.
Saturday morning 10 April: 11.00 am
Opening event of the John McDouall Stuart 150th anniversary
Venue: Town Council lawns and Alice Springs Public Library
Sponsor: Alice Springs Town Council
Kick off the week by joining Mayor Damien Ryan for a community barbecue on the Todd St lawns, with a performance by the Alice Springs Town Band and NT Music School Choir performing songs about John McDouall Stuart.
Saturday afternoon 10 April: 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
The National Trust’s Heritage Festival opening
Venue: Hartley Street School
Sponsor: McDouall Stuart Branch of the National Trust (NT)
As well as being a community celebration of John McDouall Stuart’s first expedition to Central Australia, this week is also the National Trust’s annual Heritage Festival. Over afternoon tea, Ted Egan will open the McDouall Stuart branch’s 2010 activities at Hartley Street School.
Sunday 11 April: 4.00 pm - 6.30 pm
Re-enactment of Stuart’s arrival at Owen Springs and Creekbed Concert
Venue: Hugh River at Owen Springs Reserve
Sponsor: NT Parks & Wildlife, Bloodwood, Alice Springs Town Council, Rotary Club of Stuart and the Dyson Group of Companies
The feature event for the week will commence at 4 pm with a re-enactment of the arrival of John McDouall Stuart, William Kekwick and Benjamin Head at Owen Springs on 11 April 1860. A creekbed concert will follow until 6.30 pm, featuring Bloodwood and Ted Egan. To get there, drive west on the Hermannsburg Road for 45 km to the Hugh River. The turn-off is just past the bridge. (There’ll be volunteers there with buckets, asking for a donation of $2 per person to cover the costs of staging the event.) The Rotary Club of Stuart will be selling soft drinks and running a barbecue stall. For people needing transport to Owen Springs, there will be a bus departing from the Alice Springs Town Council carpark at 2.30 pm. (Cost $5 per person but bookings are essential. Contact Tourism Central Australia in Gregory Terrace.) For more information click here.
Monday 12 April: 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
An evening of hospitality at Adelaide House
Venue: Adelaide House in Todd Street
Sponsor: Uniting Church
Visit Adelaide House...a ‘place for people’ and the most substantial building in town in the days when it was called Stuart. Free entry and supper on the verandah.
Tuesday 13 April: 7.30 pm
Doreen Braitling Memorial Lecture
Venue: Alice Springs Town Council
Sponsor: National Trust, in association with the McDouall Stuart Masonic Lodge
The National Trust is reviving the Doreen Braitling Memorial Lecture. This annual history lecture was initiated some years ago to honour the town’s legendary heritage advocate. Rick Moore (John McDouall Stuart Society, Adelaide) and Darryl Pearce (Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation) have been invited to speak. The National Trust is providing supper.
Wednesday 14 April from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon
Alice’s Treasures: A White Glove Tour of the NT Archives Service
Venue: NT Archives Service, Ground Floor Minerals House, 58 Hartley Street
Sponsor: Northern Territory Archives Service
Come along and have a behind the scenes tour of the NT Archives Service where original records relating to Alice Springs and its people are held. Come and see the mysteries and histories that await you in the repository. Get some advice on how to look after your own treasures. Numbers are strictly limited and bookings are essential. Contact Carolyn Newman on 89515669 to book your place in history.
Wednesday evening 14 April: 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm
The story of the town’s oldest surviving building
Venue: Stuart Town Gaol in Parsons Street
Sponsor: McDouall Stuart Branch of the National Trust (NT)
Historian Megg Kelham will conduct a lecture and powerpoint presentation about Stuart Town gaol. Refreshments will be provided..
Thursday evening 15 April: 7:30 pm
Mr Stuart's route: telegraph stations and the early meeting of two cultures, 1870 to 1930
Venue: Desert Knowledge Precinct, South Stuart Highway
Sponsor: Desert Knowledge CRC
To mark the 150th anniversary of Stuart’s 1860 expedition, the Desert Knowledge CRC is initiating an annual lecture series on issues of significance to Central Australia. This first lecture will be presented by Dr Philip Jones from the SA Museum. The Overland Telegraph Line was constructed only a decade after Stuart’s explorations. The telegraph stations became the first points at which Aboriginal and Western cultures came together. We are yet to fully appreciate the contribution made by the Overland Telegraph operators and the Aboriginal people, who served as cultural brokers along Mr Stuart's line.
Friday 16th April
Take a tour of a John McDouall Stuart Journey - 11 Days. More Information Here.
Friday night 16 April: 7.00 pm
Film Night at the old ‘Walk-In’
Venue: Pioneer Theatre in Parsons Street (now YHA Hostel)
Sponsor: McDouall Stuart Branch of the National Trust
There’ll be a film night in Snow Kenna’s historic open air theatre, with shorts and a feature film related to the week’s theme.
Saturday morning 17 April: 8.00 am
Stuart Town Walking Tour with Jose Petrick
Venue: Various historic buildings of town
Sponsor: McDouall Stuart Branch of the National Trust
Local historian and author Jose Petrick will lead an informative tour of discovery and reveal things about Stuart town that only Jose can provide!
Saturday 17 April from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon
Alice’s Treasures: A White Glove Tour of the NT Archives Service
Venue: NT Archives Service, Ground Floor Minerals House, 58 Hartley Street
Sponsor: Northern Territory Archives Service
Come along and have a behind the scenes tour of the NT Archives Service where original records relating to Alice Springs and its people are held. Come and see the mysteries and histories that await you in the repository. Get some advice on how to look after your own treasures. Numbers are strictly limited and bookings are essential. Contact Carolyn Newman on 89515669 to book your place in history.
Saturday afternoon 17 April from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm
Historic Buildings Bus Tour
Venue: Meet at the Hartley St School
Sponsor: McDouall Stuart Branch of the National Trust (NT)
Heritage advocate Bill Low will take people on a bus tour of heritage properties and locations around Alice Springs. $8 pp. Bookings essential 8952 5950.
Sunday 18 April from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm
The Road the War Built
Venue: Stuart’s Bush Kitchen, Norris Bell Avenue
Sponsor: National Road Transport Hall of Fame
The National Road Transport Hall of Fame is holding an open day to commemorate the naming of Stuart Highway which was constructed during the war years. There’ll be a free sausage sizzle and country music.
Sunday afternoon 18 April: 2.00 pm
Robert Czako’s Mural
Venue: St Mary’s Chapel
Sponsor: McDouall Stuart Branch of the National Trust (NT)
The National Trust is hosting a talk by historian Jose Petrick about the mural painted in 1956 by Robert Czako at St Mary’s Village. Enjoy afternoon tea at 3pm.
Sunday evening 18 April
Ecumenical Church Service
Venue: Anglican Church of the Ascension, Bath Street
Rev Bob George will host an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.
New events and updated event information will be posted here as they come to hand. Please check back regularly.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 09 April 2010 16:40 )
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