Two poems by 'H' extol the achievements of John McDouall Stuart. The earlier one, dated October 1860 refers to his fourth expedition in which he reached the centre of the continent and beyond. In the final verse 'hasten thou; our neighbours run/For the prize thou'st almost won...' alludes to the Victorian expedition led by Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills, also striving to reach the north coast of Australia. This verse also compares Stuart with Mungo Park, Charles Sturt and Ludwig Leichhardt.

The second poem 'A monument for John McDouall Stuart' again extols the explorer but proclaims how 'we've improved the occasion'--have wired in;' which is a clear reference to the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line, built largely along Stuart's route across the continent. This then is Stuart's monument.

A statue commemorating Stuart's achiement would not be erected in Adelaide until 1904.

A handwritten note on the broadsheet indicates that the poems were printed at the cost of J Chambers esq. This is John Chambers, the younger brother of James, who was Stuart's chief sponsor and who died in August 1862 before learning of Stuart's final success.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

Buy a high resolution copy.