European arrival celebrated

 A friend gives you money, a few months' food supply and the freedom to name any notable landmarks you pass.

Your mission is to get from Adelaide to the far north coast of Australia.

And you can take any route you like.

It's not surprising that 150 years ago when this same adventurous proposition was put to John McDouall Stuart he was unable to resist.

This month, Alice Springs will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first time a European set foot in the heart of Australia.

Historians, locals, patriotic Australians and tourists alike will next week relish the opportunity to observe a re-enactment of the moment Stuart arrived in the centre.

Accompanied by William Kekwick and Benjamin Head, Stuart camped at Owen Springs on the Hugh River, 50 kilometres west of Alice Springs, on April 11, 1860.

They crossed the MacDonnell Ranges at Brinkley Bluff on April 14 before reaching Central Mount Stuart on April 22.

There - at the continent's exact geographical centre - they built a cone of stones with a pole in the middle.

Attached to the pole was a flag displaying the Union Jack.

It wasn't until August 30, 1933, that the town of Stuart was officially renamed Alice Springs.

As a result of Stuart's exploration, a telegraph line was constructed and completed in 1872, Alice Springs became a repeater station on the telegraph line, resulting in European settlement in the area.

Federal member for Lingiari Warren Snowden said that while celebrating the achievements of Stuart, it was important to remember that the expedition also marked the start of contact between Europeans and central Australian Aborigines.

"This contact had a dramatic, disrupting impact on the culture and environment of the people who have called this place home for thousands of years," he said.

Widely regarded as Australia's greatest explorer, Stuart reached Tennant Creek on June 6.

On June 26, the men were confronted by Warramunga warriors at a place now known as Attack Creek.

They abandoned the expedition and returned to Adelaide.

They were running low on supplies and scurvy was taking its toll on all three men.

Stuart went on to lead several expeditions through Central Australia.

In 1861 he got as far as Newcastle Waters before turning back.

He finally achieved his goal of crossing the continent and reaching Van Diemen Gulf on his sixth attempt in July 1862.

An entire week of activities has been planned as part of the National Trust's Heritage Festival to mark the anniversary.

Lifting the Veil, a rare exhibition of artifacts and items owned or used by Stuart and his party during their expeditions, will be on display at the Museum of Central Australia.

Fascinating items include a prismatic compass inscribed with Stuart's name, a section of wood taken from the flagpole which Stuart used to hoist the Union Jack when he reached the Indian Ocean in 1862, and even some surviving beef jerky meat.

Many of the objects have been loaned by the History SA's Historical Relics Collection.

Territory History curator Michelle Smith said the exhibition would give Territorians and tourists a chance to celebrate and learn more about local history.

"Stuart, Head and Kekwick, along with 13 horses and minimal supplies and equipment, arrived in Central Australia, 'lifting the veil' on Australia's red centre," she said.

The event boats a long list of activities.

Carefully reconstructed from Stuart's own diaries, local pastoralist Bill Hayes will play Stuart during the re-enactment.

Rick Moore, president of the John McDouall Stuart Society in Adelaide will deliver the annual Doreen Braitling history lecture, and Philip Jones from the South Australian Museum will present 'Mr Stuart's route: Telegraph Stations and the early meeting of two cultures - 1870 to 1930'.

Tours of historic buildings will be conducted, including the oldest surviving building in Alice Springs - the Stuart Town jail - and a behind the scenes tour of the NT Archives will peak the interest of history buffs.

IF YOU GO:
Heritage Week runs April 10-19, 2010.
For full details of events and activities visit: www.jms.thealice.com.au

- AAP