Sixth expedition sets out

Stephen King Junior joined John McDouall Stuart's sixth expedition of 1862 to break in the horses that were being brought from the Chambers' station at Cobdogla. These were Stuart's horses of preference, tough bush-bred horses with more stamina than town-bred horses. King was a tough and resourceful bushman, but also a talented artist. Stuart wrote of him on one occasion 'as the one in whom I can place the greatest dependence to execute any charge I may give him with care and faithfulness.' (Webster, p. 216)

King's drawings are the visual record of the expedition, as he recorded the landscapes they passed through and incidents with the horses. His panorama, in four sections, of the expedition setting out, shows Stuart at the head of it wearing his sola topi (pith helment). Stuart's preference was to use pack horses for carrying his supplies and equipment. He always aimed to travel light and fast, but with due regard to the well being of his horses. He had learnt from Charles Sturt's expedition of 1844-46, on which he served, just how much heavy drays and carts could slow down the progress of an expedition.

In due time over the course of the expedition the horses learned to stand adjacent to their respective packs in the morning for them to be loaded. The men became very attached to their horses, some of which were directly responsible for saving their riders' lives with their ability to track back along a trail and to smell out water.

Following the expedition's return to Adelaide, the horses were sold at auction. Many of the men bid for their favourites. It is said that on learning that it was Stuart's men bidding, the other buyers refrained from making further bids.

View all King's sketches of the expedition.

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