Willaim Kekwick joined John McDouall Stuart on his third expedition into northern South Australia and despite the many hardships, would remain loyal to him throughout all of the remaining expeditions. Stuart would write of him after the successful crossing of Australia in 1862: 'To Mr. Kekwick I am deeply indebted whom I appointed as Second in Command this being the fourth journey he has been out with me and the second as Chief Officer. Whom I have cause to mention in my former journal in the highest terms of commendation which his excellent conduct throughout so fully merited and on this occasion he still retains the same high place in my estimation.' (Webster, p. 247)
Kekwick had arrived in South Australia in 1840. He suffered some of the difficulties of establishing himself in the young colony, including a trip to the gold diggings in Victoria. When he returned from there he was employed by James Chambers on his stations and in this way met John McDouall Stuart. Kekwick Springs in the Northern Territory was named for him by Stuart, in recognition of 'the zeal and activity he has displayed during the expedition.' (Webster, p. 147)
After Stuart's expeditions Kekwick briefly went into business before trying to find work on the Overland Telegraph Line. Unsuccessful in this, he was appointed in 1872 to the expedition being led by William Christie Gosse into central Australia. However he became ill and died before the expedition departed. William Kekwick was buried in Blinman cemetery in the north of South Australia.
