Survey parties to the Northern Territory 1864–1870
Expeditions from South Australia to the Northern Territory, 1864–1870
Several survey parties were sent by the South Australian Government to the "Top End" of the Northern Territory during the years 1864–1870, preparatory to founding a settlement. This article describes those attempts and the people involved. It includes lists of all known participants.
Background
In 1863, the part of New South Wales to the north of South Australia between the 129th and 138th parallels of longitude East was annexed to South Australia, by letters patent, as the "Northern Territory of South Australia", which was abbreviated to the Northern Territory (6 July 1863).[1] The South Australian Government, with the Wakefield plan for colonisation of South Australia as a basis, believed that European settlement of the Northern Territory could be achieved in much the same way: by selling "off the plan" parcels of land to investors, and a great deal of money would go into Government coffers, which would be used for infrastructure, thus attracting further investment.[citation needed]
All that was required was another Col. William Light, another George Gawler and a location for the new capital, which from the start was to be named "Palmerston".
Finniss expedition to Adam Bay 1864
10km 6miles
The Narrows
Escape Cliffs
Adam Bay
SW Vernon Is.
NW Vernon Is.
E Vernon Is.
The first requirement for such a settlement was a safe harbour, and from previous explorers' experience, one stood out: Adam Bay, into which the Adelaide River flows, a river navigable for a considerable distance, where all kinds of wharfs and berths could be erected. There was little land at the mouth for buildings, but no doubt suitable areas would be found upstream.
Boyle Travers Finniss, a career public servant with some surveying experience, was appointed Government Resident[a] put in charge of a body of some 40 officers and men, and whose task it was to establish a camp at a site of his choosing and mark out some 1000 town sites and a similar number of rural sites.
Finniss was not obliged to settle at Adam Bay; he chose it in preference to Port Darwin or Port Patterson on account of its harbour and the Adelaide River, which is navigable for a great distance inland, ignoring the lack of building materials, the low-lying boggy nature of the country. He chose two settlement sites; Escape Cliffs on the east coast of the bay, and The Narrows, a short distance up the Adelaide River, where there was a good landing for boats, and planned a connecting road of 6 miles (10 km).[3]
No substantial building was ever erected, apart from the Government Resident's house, in front of which he daily
drilled his guard, to the delight of the natives, who mimicked their exercises.[4]
No surveying could be done in first dry season due to insufficient manpower;[5] much of the stores never made it under cover, and much manpower was wasted keeping a lookout for marauding Aboriginals. The Protector of Aborigines, Dr. Goldsmith, was refused membership of a party sent to recover stolen property, which turned into a reprisal. Later, after some horses were speared, he was refused inclusion in an armed party led by Finniss's son, when many shots were fired and at least one Aboriginal man was killed.
Morale was low from the start. Only the Government Resident (Finniss) and his few "favourites" refused to admit that the choice of site was a huge mistake. Jealousies developed between various sections of the workforce as to who was getting preferential treatment or having the more odious duties to perform, the Government Resident and Surgeon (Sweet) were seen going off on "jaunts" with "favorites". Jealousies erupted and operations stumbled from crisis to crisis.
Many men whose one-year contract was up, left for home aboard Bengal in May 1865, a long trip, as it was to sail via Koepang, also expensive, as they had to pay for their own passage.
The Ellen Lewis arrived on 5 November 1865 with the McKinlay party and Finniss's replacement staff, and left on 1 December with Finniss,[6] who had been recalled to answer various accusations, also his son and 37 others — some being called as witnesses or to answer charges related to the murder of several Aboriginals. Others had resigned, paying their own way back to Adelaide.
Surveyor R. H. Edmunds, and Jeremiah Ryan, John Young, and Edward Tuckwell transferred to McKinlay's party, bringing its numbers to 14.[6]
Surveyor Manton, left in charge of the depleted party, reported that it was certain there was no land within a hundred miles worth surveying, and they could do nothing more than protect themselves and their stores from the natives. Manton proved no less tyrannical and arbitrary a leader than Finniss.[7] One group, under William McMinn decided to risk their lives in an open boat, the Forlorn Hope. In October 1866 Government ordered a recall of Manton and his men, along with those remaining of McKinlay's party (another debacle, see below), on the steamer Eagle, Captain Hill, which left 11 January 1867, transhipped to the Rangatira at Sydney, and arrived at Port Adelaide 2 February 1867.
Personnel
Name
Job/position
Depart Adelaide
Depart Adam Bay
Notes
R. Arthur
in charge of stock
Ellen Lewis May 1866
Eagle January 1867
J. Railton Atkinson
chainman
Henry Ellis April 1864
Bengal May 1865
sacked by Finniss. From Surabaya to Singapore with Cottrell, died in India.
Bengal May 1865, thence to Singapore with Atkinson
John Cowie
shoemaker and labourer, cook
Henry Ellis April 1864
South Australian December 1864
James Davis
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Forlorn Hope May 1865
John Davis
ass. storekeeper
Henry Ellis April 1864 Ellen Lewis September 1865
Ellen Lewis December 1865 By Yatala to Timor for supplies December 1864; ship wrecked; ret. to Adelaide. Eagle January 1867
Firmin Deacon
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Bengal May 1865
James Deslandes
in charge of stock
Ellen Lewis May 1866
Eagle January 1867
William Dougall perh. William Dugald
more info needed
Henry Ellis April 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
tried with Auld for murder of an Aboriginal man 8 September 1864.[19] Perhaps the man named McDougall who left for England once he reached Melbourne so not called as witness.
perhaps joined mounted police 1867[30] Todd and his wife separated while he was stationed at Port Lincoln 1885.[31]
Edward "Ned" Tuckwell
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Eagle January 1867
joined McKinlay party November 1865[6] later with Goyder expedition
John Varley
mason
South Australian October 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
Frederick Wadham
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
returned in poor health, died 6 July 1878
James Wadham
Junior Surveyor
Henry Ellis April 1864
Yatala November 1864
brother to at least one other Wadham[32] A niece, Bertha Mary Wadham (1863–1936), was mother of Sir Howard Florey
John Wadham
carpenter
South Australian October 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
sick with scurvy, died 30 May 1866
W. H. Walker
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
Alaric Ward
labourer
Henry Ellis April 1864
buried (at Escape Cliffs ?)
killed an Aboriginal man at Escape Cliffs August 1864, was himself speared and bludgeoned to death 31 July 1865 while in charge of sheep (erroneously listed on Ellen Lewis December 1865) He was not related to Ebenezer Ward.
dismissed by Finniss September? 1864 for insubordination
R. J. (R. A?) Ware
labourer, cook
Henry Ellis April 1864
Bengal May 1865
ill at the same time as Pearson
George T. Warland
labourer, in charge of stock
South Australian October 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
Richard Watson
Draftsman
Henry Ellis April 1864
Eagle January 1867
John White
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Forlorn Hope May 1865
Eddowes J. Wilson
labourer
South Australian October 1864
died of apoplexy 11 December 1864
D. B. Wiltshire
chainman and Able Seaman
Henry Ellis April 1864
Ellen Lewis December 1865
Clement Young
Postmaster and Clerk
South Australian October 1864
Eagle January 1867
John Young
labourer
South Australian October 1864
Eagle January 1867
joined McKinlay party November 1865[6] accidental death aboard Rangatira 1 February 1867[33]
(for Legend see below following sub-section)
McKinlay expedition 1866
The Finniss expedition, which left Adelaide with high expectations had, with each depressing report from the Territory, become a drag on Government, who decided what was needed was a small exploration party, unencumbered by such mundane tasks as erecting buildings and maintaining and protecting stores, to make a clear decision as to where the fertile land was, and where the capital should be. To that end they appointed John McKinlay to lead a party of twelve, to receive all support from the Finniss party, but to go where they might. Their ship, Ellen Lewis, which arrived at Adam Bay on 5 November 1865, also carried instructions for Finniss to return to Adelaide, to answer criticisms of his administration. Five of Finniss's party transferred to McKinlay's — Surveyor R. H. Edmunds, Jeremiah Ryan, John Young, and Edward Tuckwell, bringing its numbers to 14.[6]
McKinlay did not receive the support he expected from Finniss's successor Manton, and did not commence exploration until 20 January, when rain interfered with his travels. They never reached Cape Hawkesbury, the Roper or the Victoria.
Their lowest point came in June 1866 (not the Wet Season as sometimes reported)[34] when McKinlay, Edmunds and party, having one by one slaughtered their horses for food, were trapped in boggy land by the East Alligator River. Weak and malnourished with no chance of making it back to camp alive, they killed their two remaining horses for jerky and built a raft 21 by 9 by 4 feet (6.4 m × 2.7 m × 1.2 m) of horses' hides around a structure of green branches, and on 29 June started paddling down to the sea, and arrived back at Escape Cliffs on 5 July 1866.[35]
After recovering from their ordeal they made several coastal expeditions, visiting Anson Bay, the Daly River and Port Darwin.[8]
He returned to Adelaide to a hero's welcome, despite having achieved nothing, though he did report having seen some good land near Anson Bay,[36] and thought Port Darwin had many advantages, but lacked fresh water.
Personnel
Name
Job/position
Depart Adelaide
Depart Adam Bay
Notes
Robert Charles Burton
South Australian October 1864
Eagle January 1867
joined July 1866 from Manton's party[27] later with Goyder expedition
joined McKinlay party November 1865[6] accidental death aboard Rangatira 1 February 1867[33]
Legend: ship movements
Leaving SA
Henry Ellis April 1864 Henry Ellis, ship, 412 tons; Capt. Phillips master, left Port Adelaide 23 April 1864, arrived Adam Bay 20 June 1864[38]
Government schooner Yatala, Humbert master, left Port Adelaide 18 May 1864, arrived Adam Bay 1 August? 1 July?[39] Capt. Francis Humbert was dismissed by Finniss October 1864.[40]
South Australian October 1864 steamer South Australian, 435 tons, J. Pain master, left Port Adelaide 29 October 1864 arrived Adam Bay 6 December[41] with 47 passengers, including 40 Government appointees.
Surveying schooner Beatrice 93 tons, Hutchinson R.N., left Port Adelaide 9 April 1864 for Northern Territory. Arrived Adam Bay, waited for arrival of Henry Ellis. Returned from Koepang with supplies 1 October 1864, returned Port Adelaide 14 December 1864, her captain in poor health.
Lt. Frederick Howard R.N. succeeded Commander Hutchison as officer in charge January 1865; left Port Adelaide 18 February 1865 arrived Adam Bay 8 April 1865 with pay for men, took Auld to Port Darwin for brief exploration.[42] explored Adelaide River May 1865,[43] September 1865 exploring Victoria River, then to Koepang for provisions;[44] Sourabaya for supplies December 1865; Adam Bay maybe mid-1866. (when?)
Bengal March 1865Bengal left Port Adelaide 3 March 1865 with 6 passengers[45] arrived Adam Bay 21 April 1865.
Ellen Lewis September 1865 336 tons, Stephen Hellon master. John McKinlay and party of 12 left Port Adelaide 25 September 1865, arrived Adam Bay 5 November 1865.
Ellen Lewis May 1866 Ellen Lewis left Port Adelaide May 1866 for Adam Bay with stock and 11 passengers.
also of some interest:
Bengal 21 May 1870, Grierson master, left Adelaide for Port Darwin with land agents and potential settlers: Mr and Mrs Tod and child, Mr and Mrs Gardiner and 3 children, W. H. Gray, S. King, D. Daly, J. Davis. McKinlay, Beetson, Holthouse, Kritzmer, Schmidt, Playford, Powell, Morris, Beetson, and Douglas.
Leaving NT
Beatrice November 1864Beatrice left Adam Bay 9 November 1864,[46] arrived Port Adelaide 14 December 1864.
Yatala November 1864Yatala left Adam Bay 9 November 1864,[46] sent to Timor for supplies, wrecked, condemned as rotten.[47]
South Australian December 1864South Australian left Adam Bay c. 10 December 1864 with Ward, King, five others[48]
Bengal May 1865 Swedish barque Bengal, Peterson master, left Adam Bay 6 May 1865 for Surabaya with 13 passengers; two transshipped to Singapore; the rest by Douglas to Melbourne, thence to Adelaide.
Forlorn Hope May 1865 seven men left Adam Bay 6 May 1865 on an open sailing boat, dubbed Forlorn Hope, purchased from skipper of Bengal
Schooner Beatrice left Adam Bay for Adelaide
Ellen Lewis December 1865Ellen Lewis left Adam Bay 1 December 1865, arrived Port Adelaide 13 February 1866 with Finniss, Litchfield and 30 others.[49][50][51]
Beatrice August 1866Beatrice left Adam Bay 14 August 1866, arrived Port Adelaide via Koepang 26 September; McKinlay and three or four passengers only.
Eagle January 1867 Steamer Eagle, Captain Hill, left Adam Bay 11 January 1867, transhipped to Rangatira at Sydney; arrived Adelaide February 1867.[52][53]
Cadell expedition 1867
400km 250miles
Liverpool R.
Roper R.
Victoria R.
In January 1867, realising they had no alternative site chosen for the capital, the South Australian Government instructed Captain Francis Cadell to assemble a party to investigate the coast of the Northern Territory, to choose areas suitable for agriculture, and a site for the settlement. Cadell and a few associates left for Sydney, where he engaged the wooden steamer Eagle for six months, with the option of extending for another three or six. There he also hired a crew (preferring not to employ South Australians)[54] which would have included a number of woodcutters to feed the steamer's voracious boilers once the coal had been consumed. He had the ship refitted in Brisbane, and on 20 April the party of 26 men left for Victoria River.[55] Cadell had an interesting nine months' expedition and made several useful findings, including the true nature of Flinders' Probable Islands in Arnhem Bay. He named the strait between Elcho Island and the mainland Cadell Strait after himself and the mainland peninsula Napier Peninsula after his surveyor. He discovered the mouth of the Roper River,[56] and the condition (untouched) of the Escape Cliffs settlement. They visited Koepang for re-provisioning. They also returned to Burketown, Queensland at least once for the same reason.[56] He took only 20 horses, so was unable to investigate far inland, and made no strong recommendation for the site of the capital, though his choice ultimately fell on the Liverpool River, in Arnhem Land.[57]
A. T. Saunders (1854–1940), South Australia's noted amateur historian and critic of Cadell the self-publicist and influence-peddler, had little to say on this page in his history.
One contemporary newspaper editor however, held nothing back in his satire on Cadell's pomposity.[58]
Died 1875 without death notice or obituary, but clearly a favorite of Cadell.[61] Author of Voyage from NSW to the North Coast of Australia, 1867[56]
G. Philcox
Coorong February 1867
No information has been found on Hodges, Mason and Philcox, who have also been listed as Hodge, Massen and J Philcox[62] and nothing on the 20-odd from Sydney and Brisbane.
Legend
Coorong February 1867 Left Port Adelaide 26 February 1867 on Coorong for Sydney, where he chartered steamer Eagle and light draught steamer firefly; picked up a surgeon and exploring party
He returned to Sydney by Eagle 21 January 1868, paid off his workers, disposed of stores, remained in Sydney while the Duke of Edinburgh was in town, then by the Aldinga to Adelaide on 13 February 1868. No mention was made of any associates, but the South Australian public was wearied of the continued waste of money on "frolics" in the Territory, and by Cadell in particular.
Goyder expedition 1869
After four years of hearing nothing but reports of lack of progress in surveying land they had paid for, land-order-holders in England and Australia (mostly speculators with no intention of ever settling in the Territory) began agitating for a refund of their money, with interest, and would not be mollified by explanations of the difficulties involved, and the expense to which the Colonial Government had been put.
In March 1868 it was decided to offer a refund with interest to those who wanted out, and to those who were prepared to hang on for an extra year, a sweetener in the increase of the plot size from 160 to 240 acres (later increased to 320).[63]
Public tenders were called for the surveying of 420,000 acres, which The Advertiser cynically reckoned would result in no, or exceedingly inflated, bids and would therefore be undertaken by the Surveyor-General's department.[64]
The outcome was a little of both: George Goyder (the Surveyor-General) offered to organise and lead the expedition, and survey 420,000 acres (1,700 km2) receiving his usual salary plus a bonus of £3,000 for successful completion within a year at a cost of £25,000, not counting shipping costs. Parliament leapt at the proposal, such was Goyder's reputation for integrity, energy and vision. The fact that the South Australian Government was losing no time and grudging no expenditure on a successful outcome, and putting their best man in charge of the venture, restored much confidence in the investors in Northern Territory property.[65]
Goyder's plan was to appoint six 1st Class Surveyors of his choosing; they would appoint their own 2nd Class Surveyors and Cadets, and where possible the "arms and legs": the chainmen, trenchers, cook and stock handlers, otherwise these appointments would be made by Goyder from men he knew. He agreed with the purchase of horses and cattle from Brisbane, but rejected suggestions that any men should be picked up there; he wanted men he knew and who respected him. They would land at Port Darwin and work their way towards the fertile lands of the Upper Adelaide and Victoria Rivers.[66] He insisted on all provisions being supplied in Adelaide to his specifications (10,000 lbs beef and mutton prepared by the Melbourne Meat Preservation Company (S. S. Ritchie's process), rather than relying on store cattle and sheep.[67] He also ordered 20 tons of dry-ground flour, being less affected by tropical conditions than the moist-ground flour used by bakers).[8] and personally inspected by him.
Goyder gave strict instructions to his men that for their own safety, interactions with the natives should be strictly limited: none to be allowed in the camp; strictly no touching Aboriginal women under any circumstances, the greatest source of animosity; never to go out alone, and not to leave the camp unarmed; to use firearms as a last resort and to aim at a person only when one's own life was in peril. To respect Aboriginal property, and not to engage in any form of retribution. Two men, Hardy and Greene, ignored this last injunction and smashed several of their canoes and pushed two others into the current, for no good reason, and received a dressing-down from the Surveyor-General.
The men worked hard and efficiently and the whole of the surveying job was completed by August 1869.
Personnel
Goyder's scheme of six parties effectively operated as twelve, each consisting of a first- or second-class surveyor, cadet, chainmen, headsmen, trenchers, axemen and a shared cook.[68][69]
This table includes some information on those of Goyder's parties who remained or returned to the NT to participate in Charles Todd's Overland Telegraph (OT) line construction.
Govt Resident's staff as teamster, OT as teamster. Friend of Deane and engaged to his sister Ny.
Robert Beard
in charge of horses
Moonta December 1868
Kohinoor February 1870
had been on Finniss's 1864 expedition
Thomas Bee
6
Surveyor, Cadet, 1st Class
Moonta December 1868
Gulnare January 1870
Omeo August 1870
Born 4 July 1850 in Brompton, England, son of T. W. Bee, educated at AEI, worked on OT under McMinn & Musgrave, later postmaster several SA towns, died 21 November 1919 in Millicent, South Australia.[72]
David Landel Beetson (not Butson)
3
Surveyor, Cadet, 2nd Class
Moonta December 1868
Gulnare January 1870
acted as land selection agent,[73] prospected for gold, had (with S. King and C. Schmidt) first private house in Palmerston, insolvent, died in WA.
Bennett and William Guy speared by Aborigines 24 or 25 May 1869. Bennett died 28 May, the day after Dr Peel removed, under chloroform, broken spear point which had passed into chest cavity.[74] Buried on Fort Hill, Darwin.
OT laborer under Harvey & Roberts, later resident of Roper River area,[81] killed himself by pistol shot at Wandi, Northern Territory, on 17 May 1901.[82]
later with OT. Described by Edwin Smith as brilliant but erratic,[8] he had four or five children by Annie Sloper Cornish, whose brother William Henry Cornish served as a chainman then in 1877 eloped bigamously to America.[97]
Moonta December 1868 Ship Moonta, 627 tons,[106] T. Barneson, departed Port Adelaide 23 December 1868,[107] but was held up three days at North Arm before getting underway,[108] arrived Port Darwin 5 February 1869 with Goyder and party of over 100.
Schooner Sea Ripple 126 tons, T. Bicknell, intended as a link between Darwin and Koepang, and for exploration purposes, should have left Adelaide with building materials in January 1869 but was condemned as unsuited to the region. Gulnare was purchased in her place.[109] Of course Goyder and party had no knowledge of these delays and feared the worst.
Gulnare February 1869 Schooner Gulnare, 150 tons, Capt. Samuel W. Sweet (also a noted photographer), left Adelaide 12 February 1869 arrived Port Darwin 27 March 1869 with a dozen or so additional staff.
Gulnare left Adelaide 23 June 1869 for Koepang and Port Darwin, arrived 23 August 1869. No passengers, though with the sudden revival of interest in the Territory, many put their names forward.[110]
Kohinoor December 1869 Barque Kohinoor, 280 tons, Capt. Bicknell, left Adelaide 16 December 1869 with settlers,[111] arrived Port Darwin 21 January 1870
Omeo August 1870 Steamer Omeo chartered by Darwent & Dalwood officers S. King, W. McMinn, Burton, E M Bagot had contract for distributing provisions from depot at Mount Margaret, Harvey Bacon had a store 200 miles to north.. 5 gangs (from north) Harvey, A T Woods, Beckwith, McMinn, Knuckey; each 120 miles of line.[112]
Omeo December 1871 Steamer Omeo chartered by Charles Todd.[113]
Leaving NT
Moonta March 1869Moonta left Port Darwin 4 March, arrived Port Wallaroo 23 April with curios and botanical samples, poss. passengers: Dalwood, Kennedy.
Gulnare left 30 April 1869 for Koepang and Adelaide, arriving 7 June 1869.[114]
Gulnare September 1869Gulnare left Port Darwin 28 September 1869 arrived Adelaide 15 November 1869.[85] Donley part of crew, may have left ship at Port Adelaide.
Gulnare January 1870Gulnare, Capt. Sweet, left Port Darwin 21 January 1870 arrived Port Adelaide 27 March 1870 with 12 officers and 7 men.[115]
Kohinoor February 1870Kohinoor, Thomas Bicknell, left Port Darwin 6 February 1870 arrived Port Adelaide 10 April 1870.[116]
Gulnare June 1871Gulnare, Capt. Sweet, left Port Darwin 6 June 1871, arrived Port Adelaide 8 July 1871.[117]
1868 article about Daly's administration
From an article entitled "The Administration of Sir Dominick Daly, K.B." in the Adelaide Register, dated 28 February 1868:
SETTLEMENT
From the close of Stuart's first overland journey in 1859 little doubt seems to have been entertained by his fellow-colonists as to his ultimate success. So enthusiastic was our then Governor, Sir Richard MacDonnell, about the capabilities of the newly-discovered country that he applied to the Colonial Office for its immediate annexation to South Australia. The Duke of Newcastle replied that it was too soon to speak of that until the practicability of the overland route had been demonstrated. During the next few years additional evidence was discovered, not only by Stuart himself, but by Burke and Wills, McKinlay, Landsborough, and other contemporary explorers. The Duke of Newcastle was applied to a second time, not in the interests of South Australia, however, but of Queensland. Ignoring altogether the large share of credit due to South Australian explorers, and the prior claim of the South Australian Government, he offered the whole of the north coast to Queensland, the then pet colony of Downing-street. She had the modesty to confess that one-half of the white elephant would be enough for her, and so a line was drawn at the west side of the Gulf of Carpentaria. South Australia repeated her request for Arnheim's Land, unfortunately with success. The Waterhouse Ministry, before they retired from office in July, 1863, had the satisfaction of hearing from the Duke of Newcastle that their resolutions passed in Executive Council on the undesirability of annexing the whole of Northern Australia to Queensland had carried conviction to his mind. All that portion between the 129th and 138th degrees of east longitude was to be handed over to the "temporary guardianship" of South Australia. So ended the prologue to our Northern Territory melodrama. The first act must needs open with a Ministerial crisis, and in the transformation scene those who had opposed annexation became its executive, while some of its official originators enrolled themselves in the opposition. Among the founders of the Adam Bay settlement were a Chief Secretary (Mr. Ayers), a Treasurer (Captain Hart), and a Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. Glyde), who on the shady side of the House had spoken against annexation as a very equivocal benefit. They had deprecated the ambition of the Waterhouse Government in proposing to send stock overland, and within twelve months they shipped from Port Adelaide a full-blown colony, with Government Resident, Secretary, guard of honour and valet-de-chambre for His Excellency, Police and Police Inspectors, Surveyors and Surveyor Generals, labourers and gentlemen farmers — altogether a perfect specimen of a ready-made municipality. But hothouse colonization did not suit the climate of Adelaide River. Disgusted with two years' experience of it, we tried a little exploring again, and Mr. McKinlay spent a pleasant winter on the East Alligator River at the expense of the Northern Territory Fund. To complete the programme of dilettante colonization our only further requirement was a marine survey à la Marco Polo, which Captain Cadell has given us. Now we can turn round and conscientiously say to the land-order-holders — the would-be cotton-planters and paddy-cultivators of Adam Bay — that we have done our best for them in that particular direction. Had the Duke of Newcastle been alive, with what gusto might the land-order-holders have poured their grievances into his sympathetic ear ; what invidious comparisons might they not have drawn between the Queensland style of settlement and our own ! There on one side of the boundary is Escape Cliffs, with its abandoned stores hid away under tarpaulins, and "the old Chief Mira" as special constable keeping guard over them. On the other side is Burke Town, a flourishing depot for the squatting stations on the Plains of Promise. From Queensland stock has been allowed to eat its way gradually down the Flinders, the Cloncurry, and the Albert Rivers. It has not only cost nothing to the Brisbane Government, but has been a large source of profit to the country. From South Australia not a single head of cattle has entered Arnheim's Land, unless by sea, and after eating its head off half a dozen times over on the voyage, seventy thousand pounds spent on a four years' infatuation, and the net result is— two hundred pounds worth of marine stores left on Escape Cliffs as a souvenir of the Finniss regime ! If history could be expunged as easily as Parliamentary votes, the words "Northern Territory" would never more be seen in our annals.[118]
Notes
^"The Government Resident of the Northern Territory was appointed by the South Australian Government in 1864 as a result of the passing of the Northern Territory Act 1863. The Government Resident was responsible for the administration of the Northern Territory while it was under South Australian control."[2]
^Bauer was described by Margaret Goyder Kerr as a "German gentleman of scientific tastes [devoted to] rain gauges and barometers".[8] Previously employed by the Melbourne Observatory, he recorded much meteorological data at Escape Cliffs in 1865.[9]
^"The Adam Bay Settlement". Sydney Mail. Vol. VI, no. 266. New South Wales, Australia. 5 August 1865. p. 11. Retrieved 7 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abcdefghijkl"Arrival of the Ellen Lewis". The Adelaide Express. Vol. III, no. 674. South Australia. 14 February 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 1 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia. C. S. Hulls, became a cotton grower, joined McKinlay; he later criticised Manton.
^"Obituaries". The Observer (Adelaide). Vol. LXXVI, no. 5, 754. South Australia. 3 May 1919. p. 18. Retrieved 14 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abc"Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XXIX, no. 5860. South Australia. 12 August 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"South Australia". The Melbourne Leader. Vol. X, no. 264. Victoria, Australia. 19 January 1861. p. 11. Retrieved 23 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Late C. W. Machell". The Bunyip. No. 1, 075. South Australia. 8 May 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XXIX, no. 5715. South Australia. 23 February 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 14 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Police Appointments". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XXV, no. 1350. South Australia. 17 August 1867. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"North Australia". South Australian Register. Vol. XXVIII, no. 5603. South Australia. 13 October 1864. p. 2. Retrieved 22 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia. John c. 1828; Fred c. 1831; James c. 1833
^"Early Exploration". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CI, no. 13842. Tasmania, Australia. 11 July 1914. p. 14. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Northern Territory". South Australian Register. Vol. XXVIII, no. 5657. South Australia. 15 December 1864. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia. diary also has good accounts of Ward's, Goldsmith's dismissals
^"Arrival of the Ellen Lewis". South Australian Register. Vol. XXX, no. 6017. South Australia. 14 February 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 28 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.Complaint to Capt. Hellon by 34 passengers
^"Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XXX, no. 6017. South Australia. 14 February 1866. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia. letter to Capt Hellon requesting stop at Koepang
^"To the Editor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XXXIX, no. 6292. New South Wales, Australia. 6 August 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 4 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Northern Territory Expedition". South Australian Register. Vol. XXXII, no. 6907. South Australia. 25 December 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia. This list corrects several errors in pre-departure lists.
^"Obituary". The Chronicle (Adelaide). Vol. LIV, no. 2, 766. South Australia. 26 August 1911. p. 42. Retrieved 14 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Concerning People". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXII, no. 22, 167. South Australia. 24 November 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Wattle Culture". South Australian Register. Vol. XLVII, no. 11, 259. South Australia. 14 December 1882. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Death of R. A. Horn". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XLVIII, no. 2586. South Australia. 25 April 1891. p. 34. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Obituary". Adelaide Observer. Vol. LXXI, no. 5, 482. South Australia. 28 March 1914. p. 39. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Personal". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LVI, no. 17, 294. South Australia. 21 March 1914. p. 18. Retrieved 11 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^Lon Wallis; Ray Dundon. "Frederick Schultze". Top End Plant Society. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
^"General News". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. V, no. 1, 461. South Australia. 3 October 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 15 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Death of Mr Stretton". The Advertiser. Vol. LXII, no. 19108. South Australia. 10 January 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 16 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Northern Territory Staff". The Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. I, no. 294. South Australia. 18 December 1869. p. 3. Retrieved 13 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia. It is not clear which of these appointments travelled by Kohinoor.
^"The Overland Telegraph". South Australian Register. Vol. XXXV, no. 7434. South Australia. 10 September 1870. p. 5 (Supplement to the South Australian Register.). Retrieved 14 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
