John McKinlay
Encyclopedia
John McKinlay was a grazier and explorer of Australia
and leader of the search party for the Burke and Wills expedition
.
, Scotland
, third son of Dugald McKinlay, a merchant, and his wife Catherine, née McKellar. John was educated at Dalinlongart School and migrated to New South Wales
with his brother Alexander in 1836.
The brothers worked with a squatter uncle until 1840, and afterwards John travelled to the border of South Australia
, where he took up land between there and the Darling River
. John McKinlay was interested in the aborigines
of the area, and his knowledge of their ways was of great use later when he became an explorer.
in August 1861 to lead an expedition to search for the Burke and Wills expedition
party, whose fate was unknown. McKinlay left Adelaide
on 16 August 1861 with nine other men, 70 sheep, two packhorses and four camels. On 20 October 1861 the grave of a European, supposed to be Charles Gray
, was found near Cooper Creek
. McKinlay reported this to the government, and soon afterwards learned that the remains of Robert O'Hara Burke
and William John Wills
had also been found. McKinlay decided to explore in the direction of Central Mount Stuart
, but was driven back by heavy rains and floods. McKinlay then decided to make for the Gulf of Carpentaria
, hoping to find HMVS Victoria
which had been sent to meet Burke's party. By 20 May 1862 the shore of the Gulf was thought to be only around five miles (8 km) away, but the intervening country was very difficult, and it was decided to turn east and make for Port Denison
on the north Queensland
coast. A station on the Bowen River
near Port Denison was reached on 2 August 1862, and after resting a few days the expedition reached Port Denison. The party then returned by sea to Adelaide. McKinlay received a grant of £1000 from the government and a gold watch from the Royal Geographical Society
of England.
and to report on the best sites for settlement. It was an exceptionally rainy season and while on the East Alligator River the expedition was surrounded by flood waters. With great resource McKinlay, having killed his horses, constructed a raft with their hides and saplings and made a perilous journey to the coast. McKinlay reported favourably on the country around Port Darwin and Anson Bay as being suitable for settlement.
, and died there on 31 December 1872. A monument to his memory was erected at Gawler in 1875.
McKinlay was 6 feet 3½ inches (192 cm) tall, modest and unassuming. He was an excellent bushman, making little of his privations, a good judge of conditions, and although he made only two expeditions, he ranks among the great explorers of Australia.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and leader of the search party for the Burke and Wills expedition
Burke and Wills expedition
In 1860–61, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 3,250 kilometres...
.
Early life
John McKinlay was born at Sandbank on the River ClydeRiver Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, third son of Dugald McKinlay, a merchant, and his wife Catherine, née McKellar. John was educated at Dalinlongart School and migrated to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
with his brother Alexander in 1836.
The brothers worked with a squatter uncle until 1840, and afterwards John travelled to the border of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, where he took up land between there and the Darling River
Darling River
The Darling River is the third longest river in Australia, measuring from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth, New South Wales. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is long, making it the longest river system in Australia.The...
. John McKinlay was interested in the aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
of the area, and his knowledge of their ways was of great use later when he became an explorer.
Search for Burke and Wills (South Australian Burke Relief Expedition)
McKinlay was chosen by the South Australian House of AssemblySouth Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
in August 1861 to lead an expedition to search for the Burke and Wills expedition
Burke and Wills expedition
In 1860–61, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 3,250 kilometres...
party, whose fate was unknown. McKinlay left Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on 16 August 1861 with nine other men, 70 sheep, two packhorses and four camels. On 20 October 1861 the grave of a European, supposed to be Charles Gray
Charles Gray
Charles Gray may refer to:* Charles Gray , representing Colchester, England*Charles Gray , Royal Marines captain and songwriter* Charles Gray , in the mid-19th century...
, was found near Cooper Creek
Cooper Creek
Cooper Creek is one of the most famous and yet least visited rivers in Australia. It is sometimes known as the Barcoo River from one of its tributaries and is one of three major Queensland river systems that flow into the Lake Eyre Basin...
. McKinlay reported this to the government, and soon afterwards learned that the remains of Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke was an Irish soldier and police officer, who achieved fame as an Australian explorer. He was the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...
and William John Wills
William John Wills
William John Wills was an English surveyor who also trained for a while as a surgeon. He achieved fame as the second-in-command of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...
had also been found. McKinlay decided to explore in the direction of Central Mount Stuart
Central Mount Stuart
Central Mount Stuart is a mountain peak situated in the southern Northern Territory, Australia. It is a prominent landmark easily seen from the nearby Stuart Highway, which at closest approach lies about 6 km to the southeast...
, but was driven back by heavy rains and floods. McKinlay then decided to make for the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
, hoping to find HMVS Victoria
HMS Victoria (1855)
HMVS Victoria was a 580-ton combined steam/sail sloop-of-war built in England in the 1850s for the colony of Victoria, Australia....
which had been sent to meet Burke's party. By 20 May 1862 the shore of the Gulf was thought to be only around five miles (8 km) away, but the intervening country was very difficult, and it was decided to turn east and make for Port Denison
Bowen, Queensland
Bowen is a town on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Bowen had a population of 7,484.-Geography:Bowen is located on the north-east coast of Australia, at exactly twenty degrees south of the equator. In fact, the twentieth parallel crosses the main street...
on the north Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
coast. A station on the Bowen River
Bowen River
The Bowen River is a river in northern Fiordland, New Zealand. The river runs south for 8 km, before flowing from a hanging valley to become the 162 m Lady Bowen Falls, and draining into the head of Milford Sound...
near Port Denison was reached on 2 August 1862, and after resting a few days the expedition reached Port Denison. The party then returned by sea to Adelaide. McKinlay received a grant of £1000 from the government and a gold watch from the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
of England.
Northern Territory
On 17 January 1863 McKinlay married Miss Jane Pile, the daughter of an old friend, but was soon off exploring again. In September 1865 he was chosen to lead and expedition to explore the Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and to report on the best sites for settlement. It was an exceptionally rainy season and while on the East Alligator River the expedition was surrounded by flood waters. With great resource McKinlay, having killed his horses, constructed a raft with their hides and saplings and made a perilous journey to the coast. McKinlay reported favourably on the country around Port Darwin and Anson Bay as being suitable for settlement.
Late life
After his return McKinlay took up pastoral pursuits near the town of Gawler, South AustraliaGawler, South Australia
Gawler is the first country town in the state of South Australia, and is named after the second Governor of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is located north of the centre of the state capital, Adelaide, and is close to the major wine producing district of the Barossa Valley...
, and died there on 31 December 1872. A monument to his memory was erected at Gawler in 1875.
McKinlay was 6 feet 3½ inches (192 cm) tall, modest and unassuming. He was an excellent bushman, making little of his privations, a good judge of conditions, and although he made only two expeditions, he ranks among the great explorers of Australia.