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A brief history of funded desert exploration in Australia

The Burke & Wills Expedition of 1860 (originally named the Victorian Exploring Expedition) was the first major exploration expedition to use camels in Australia. The tragic outcome of that journey not withstanding, the value that camels could offer to the exploration of the the continents dry inland was very quickly recognised. By the 1890s, exploration in Australia was of a completely different nature from to that of the preceding decades. The last unknown areas were now being closed in and the overall approach was changing towards scientific research.

Three of the major expeditions in that decade were:

• The Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition of 1891-2
• The 1894 Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition and
• The 1896 Horn Scientific Exploration

Private sources were then playing a considerable role providing funding. All of John McDouall Stuart’s expeditions were backed, in whole or in part, by Chambers and Finke (after whom the central Australian landmark and town are named respectively). John Forrest’s expeditions were supported by a mixture of government funding, private donations and grants from scientific societies. Peter Egerton-Warburton was financed by Sir Thomas Elder, who also provided the camels for both his and Giles’ expeditions. Giles’ five expeditions were funded by himself and his brother-in-law, Ferdinand von Mueller, and the South Australian Government. (McLaren, Beyond Leichhardt)

Decades later, in 1939, Cecil Madigan’s scientific expedition across the northern Simpson Desert was supported by Allen Simpson, the then President of the Royal Geographical Society in Adelaide, and a major financial backer of Madigan’s work. This expedition contributed greatly to the scientific and popular understanding of the Simpson Desert.

In the early 21st century, Australian desert exploration has now turned full circle from that golden era of the 1890s.

Australian Desert Expeditions is a Registered Environmental Organisation, and you can help us continue our important scientific desert research by making a tax deductible donation to help fund our expeditions. Please contact the company secretary Keith Brodie.

Supporting the Future of Australian Desert Exploration

• Keith Brodie, Director & Secretary
• Les Fallick, Director
• James Harker-Mortlock, Director
• Andrew Harper, Managing Director
• Kieran Kelly, Director
• David Taylor, Director

Foundation Supporters

• Anita & Luca Belgiorno-Nettis Foundation

• Jo Bertini - Artist
• Robyn Davidson - Author, explorer
• John Wilkinson - Outback Camel Company cameleer, retired grazier
• Robyn Williams - Science journalist, broadcaster and author

Research Advisory Panel

• Brian Blaylock, Secretary BirdsSA
• Dr Ken Johnson, Desert Connections, Alice Springs
• Dr Philip Jones, Senior Curator, Department of Anthropology, South Australian Museum
• Dick Kimber, Central Australian historian and author
• Dr Peter Latz, Central Australian botanist and author
• Don Rowlands, Wangkangurru elder, QPWS Ranger
• Dr Mike Smith FAHA FSA, Senior Research Fellow (Archaeology), National Museum of Australia
• Assoc Prof Rod Wells, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University

Research Coordinator - Dr Elizabeth Sakker

Accountant (pro bono): P Gruchy & Associates, Melbourne

Auditor (pro bono): RSM Bird Cameron, Sydney

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Foundation Corporate Partners

Cameleer John Wilkinson, riding Istan, surveys the scene, Southern Simpson Desert 2007