Stuart: In memoriam

In 1872 Caroline Carleton wrote this letter to the Editor of the South Australian Register. It included a poem in tribute to John McDouall Stuart and in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of his successful crossing of the continent. In the letter she notes that she has expanded upon an earlier poem that she wrote. In the poem she refers to the 'flashing' wire. This is the Overland Telegraph Line that was erected across the continent, largely following in Stuart's footsteps, and which was finally completed in August 1872.

The poem also mentions Stuart's 'distant grave': Stuart returned to England in 1864 and died two years later in 1866. He was buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London.

The poem was published in the Register on 25 July 1872, page 5.

Caroline Carleton and her husband Charles emigrated to South Australia in 1839. Twenty years later she penned the anthem, Song of Australia, in response to a competition organised by the Gawler Institute. Her words, with music by Carl Linger, won the competition. The anthem was sung by several generations of South Australians, including numerous school children at assemblies, and was favoured as Australia's national anthem. In 1977 Song of Australia lost at referendum to Advance Australia Fair, which was proclaimed Australia's national anthem in 1984.

After her husband's death in 1861 Carleton taught for some years.

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