Walking Stick used by John McKinlay
In 1865 McKinlay was appointed to as government resident for the newly declared Northern Territory of South Australia. McKinlay led a party of 12 to decide where to establish a settlement. They returned to Adelaide by the Beatrice in August 1866, to a hero’s welcome. McKinlay recommend Port Darwin as being suitable for settlement. McKinlay settled on his pastoral land around Gawler. There is a monument to him in the main street.
Source RGSSA R55
It was a very rainy season and the McKinlay party were surrounded by flood water while near the east Alligator river. They killed their animals to make jerky. They paddled down the river on a rough punt, constructed of saplings and covered with horsehide. The crocodiles followed them and at sea, sharks and sawfish followed. They arrived back at escape cliffs in July 1866. After they recovered, they continued exploring, visiting Anson Bay, Daly River and port Darwin.