A Journey from Barrow Creek to Victoria River

Abstract

EARLY in January 1909 the writer made an agreement with the South Australian Government to open up a line of waters, for a stock route, from near Central Mount Stuart to the Victoria river, so that stock bred in the Victoria river district might be taken direct to Alice Springs instead of by the roundabout route to Newcastle Waters, and then down the Overland Telegraph Line. Mr. F. B. Wallis kindly lent twenty camels and gave financial assistance as well, while the South Australian Government agreed to pay for any trial wells made at reasonable distances apart that would yield a fair supply of good water. On 8 February 1909 I left Adelaide with stores for six months, including a fair supply of dried beef, which proved a great success, though because it was heavily spiced the black boys objected to it and would only eat it minced fine as a hash, with dried vegetables. We bought fresh meat wherever possible, and also took in salted beef at the last station, Barrow Creek. My three companions, John Gettens, Harry Baxter, and Richard Douglas, joined me at Oodnadatta. They were all experienced bushmen, and used to mining and well-sinking. At Barrow Creek I secured two black boys, Tim and Paddy. Paddy knew the country to the west and north-west of Barrow Creek. The Hanson Creek country he knew well, and he had been as far west as the Lander Creek. For years past the rumour had been current?derived of course from the natives? that there were natural springs in the sandhills north-west of Barrow Creek. Paddy had visited some of these springs, and agreed to pilot me to them. They were far off, however, and the trouble was to find water low down along the course of the Hanson Creek, say 35 or 40 miles north-west of Barrow Creek, that would enable us to reach the first spring. From here, Paddy said, the distances between the springs were not very great. With the help of,these springs, if they existed, I hoped to be able to reach Winnecke Creek?so named by Alan Davidson on the journey when he dis? covered the Tanami goldfield. The creek was discovered by Nat Buchanan, a hardy old bushman, on his remarkable journey through quite unexplored country from Powell Creek to the Victoria river. Buchanan travelled with horses, and had only a black boy for companion. His route was north of mine, and must have been through the country where the ill-fated aviators, Anderson and Hitchcock, recently lost their lives. Buchanan, it is reported, had a very arduous trip, and only succeeded in getting through to Winnecke Creek by finding a native well or two. As no one has since visited the wells it is not known whether they are permanent or only contain water for a few months or weeks after the rainy season. Many of the natives' wells in the country he passed through are not permanent. From Winnecke Creek I hoped to reach the great south-east bend of the Victoria river, near which is the Mucka outstation of the Wave Hill cattle station. The Catfish set of yards, which are quite close to the bend, and the water-hole bearing the same name, were my real objective. The South Australian Government had supplied me with a light portable