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John McDouall Stuart ExpeditionPrint Page 
The plaque commemorates the achievement of John McDouall Stuart and his companions on their successful south-north Expedition of 1861 and 1862. The plaque was unveiled in the Burra Jubilee 150 year at the site of the former telegraph station where Stuart sent a telegram confirming the success of his expedition.
John McDouall Stuart officially set out on the 25th October 1861 from “Montefiore House”, the residence of James and Catherine Chambers in North Adelaide, on his sixth expedition. This was his third, and ultimately successful attempt to cross Australia. Nine months after leaving Adelaide, the British Flag (Union Jack) was raised on the northern shore at Chambers Bay, east of present day Darwin. The men and horses were weary from the nine months travelling, camping out in the open and surviving on severely limited rations and poor water.
Stuart’s journal for the return contains a vivid record of his sufferings. The Expedition completed the first European crossing of Australia, from Adelaide to Van Diemen Gulf, passing through the Centre of the Continent, and returning along the same route without loss of life. Stuart telegraphed the news of his triumph from Kooringa (Burra) and reached Adelaide on 17 December 1862.
Location
| Address: | Market Street, Burra Regional Art Gallery , Burra, 5417 |
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| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.680365 Long: 138.937403 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
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| Monument Theme: | Landscape |
| Sub-Theme: | Exploration |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 16-December-1862 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 16-December-1862 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 16th December, 1995 |
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The John McDouall Stuart Society Inc. Placed This Plaque
On 16th December, 1995, The Burra Jubilee 150 Year
It Commemorates The Historic Achievement By Stuart
And His Nine Companions
On The Great Northern Exploration Expedition 1861-2
From Adelaide To Australia`s Northern Shores And Return,
Without Loss Of Life
Stuart Sent The Following Telegram From This Post And Telegraph Office:
Kooringa Station
December 16th 1862
John McDouall Stuart
Commander Of The South Australian Great Northern Exploration Expedition
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.
