Major Warburton's Trip to Gawler Range

In 1857 the Commissioner of Police (Major Warburton) asked permission of the Chief Secretary to visit Mount Serle, and from thence to visit Port Lincoln district for the purpose of leaving horses at the various police stations. This was a very tactful way of getting permission to explore through the Gawler Range while on the way to Streaky Bay.

Coincident with this, the Government was completing arrangements for a thorough exploration of the north-western interior, which by a breakaway from instructions resulted in an exploration of the Gawler Range from the west, just after Warburton had emerged from the range, having come from the east.

Unfortunately there is no report available of Warburton's trip. He prepared a plan, which the Surveyor General borrowed, so that Warburton's track, might be plotted on official plans. Presumably the track shown on Hack's plan was derived from this source, being tied in with three fixings by Hack. Warburton apparently contended himself by reporting to the Chief Secretary that he had returned from the trip.

From Hack's plan, prepared by Harris, we can see that Warburton passed near Mount Separation, a hill I should imagine in the vicinity of Nonning head station, thence he passed round the southern end of a lake, which was subsequently named Lake Gaird ner, thence to near Murnea, a little scuth-east of Mendea Hill, thence by a circuitous course to near Moonaree Hill, at which point he turned south-west, passing the southern end of Lake Acraman to Mount Centre. How he got from there to Streaky Bay is not shown.

BARREN COUNTRY

The Adelaide 'Observer ' of July 25, 1857, records his return and states that "Major Warburton has returned from his trip to Streaky Bay having crossed to that place overland from Port Augusta. He took a course to the north of the Gawler Range, but found no good country, in fact the whole route was through a barren tract, with only sufficient water to enable a party to proceed. Hack's party had left Streaky Bay six days before Major Warburton's arrival there, and had taken an easterly course. Their instructions were to travel towards the north, and no reason has been assigned for his variation from the original plan of the route. As the entire party has removed from Streaky Bay it is probable that they may not be heard of for some time." (Did the paper err here ? From Hack's report it appears that two men were left behind at Streaky Bay.)

As an outcome of Hack's preliminary report we get another insight into Warburton's trip. Hack had visited, the " Great Salt Lake," and refrained from naming it, as he had seen Warburton's tracks, and presumed the lake had therefore been named. The Commissioner of Police, having seen Hack's plan, wrote to the Commissioner of Crown Lands on September 2S, 1857 : " I beg to observe that so far as my information extends, Mr. Darke was the first European who visited this lake, and I believe that I and my party were the next visitors."

He therefore sug gested that the name of " Lake Darke " be applied " in acknowledgment of the merits and in memory of the misfortune of its discoverer." He considered the lake to be second in size in the colony, Lake Torrens taking first place. Unfortunately prior to receipt of that letter His Excellency the Governor had named the lake ' Lake Gairdner,' as will be narrated when dealing with Hack's exploration.

MR. HOLROYD'S JOURNAL

As was stated when dealing with Eyre's explorations, it is most probable Eyre saw the lake, but did not realise its size, considering it a lot of small lakes. He would therefore be the first to see it, then Darke, then Warburton. After the preceding portion of this article was in the hands of the printers, it was ascertained that the report of the Commissioner of Police for June 30, 1857, stated that Inspector Holroyd accompanied Warburton on the trip to Mount Serle, Streaky Bay and Port Lincoln, the Commissioner returning to Adelaide by boat, the inspector being left behind to bring on the horses overland. The inspector was still en route on July 27, 1857, when the report was written.

Having such a clue, an immediate application was made to Mr. G. W. Halcombe, late Stipendiary Magistrate, a nephew to Henry Holroyd, to ascertain whether there was any record of the trip in the late Henry Holroyd's manuscript autobiography. I was given the agreeable news, that there was, and for the purpose of this article I could make use of Vol. 3 of the script, containing the account. Before entering on the details, it might be mentioned that Mr. Holroyd left Great Britain when 17 years of age, to seek his fortune overseas. In course of time he was gazetted as inspector of police in 1854, when his age must have been about 24 or 25 years. In that capacity he was sent to Port Lincoln but through financial difficulties he was transferred to Adelaide, and then he accompanied Major Warburton through the Gawler Range in 1857 as indicated above. For over 40 years, he was intimately connected with the Peninsula, first as inspector of police, then in the dual capacity of inspector and Resident Magistrate, to which position was afterwards added that of chairmanship of the local Main Road Board. Resigning the two former positions, he devoted many years to his run, the ' Duck Ponds,' which he had acquired in his earlier connection with the Peninsula.

PLEASANT WORD PICTURE

It is regretted that on approaching old age he became financially involved, and in the financial stress which the colony was going through at the time, lost the whole of his wealth. But what he felt most of all, he lost his home at the Duck Ponds, the surroundings of which he had improved so very much. In the leisure of his old age he set about an almost herculean task of compiling his own biography. Reading Vol. 3 of this work makes one quite anxious to read the others. He has left to us a pleasant picture of Port Lincoln and its surroundings, with deep and solemn thoughts running all through the theme. He has not spared himself when subsequent times showed he was in the wrong he readily admitted it ; he castigates those who did him wrong, and gratefully acknowledges what must have been the overlooking of a reprimand of his troopers, which he took as a reflection on himself, for on being sent to Fowler's Bay on a difficult task he was informed that he was chosen for especial duty because of the activity and determination he had shown on a previous occasion in the far North. The overlooking was by deed, even if the words were not actually spoken.

'LAIRD OF THE RUN'

Holroyd states that he was born in 1829, and arrived in South Australia on July 17, 1849, in the "Madawaska." His first job was chairman in a survey party on a flying trip to Mount Gambier, returning almost immediately. On reaching Adelaide he found himself unemployed, so accepted a clerkship in the 'Gazette and Mining Engineer' newspaper office. The hectic days of Victoria proved too alluring for him, so he formed a party for the gold fields. On his return he and a mate started a firewood business. On hearing that four inspectors were wanted in the police, he applied and was agreeably surprised to find that he was one of those appointed.

Doubtless many readers will remember Henry Holroyd, J.P. One pictures him at Port Lincoln as a kindly benevolent English gentleman, the laird of the run, looking after his sheep, cattle and horses, planting trees, observing the wild birds, admiring nature and endeavoring to live so that he could say that life was well worth living. This is not the time to write his life— it is hoped some literary person will undertake that task — but I am sure I am voicing the opinion of many in thanking Mr. Halcombe for making his uncle's journal available for use in connection with this, and I hope subsequent articles. (We endorse Mr. Somerville's expres sion of appreciation of Mr. Halcombes kindness. — Ed.) Little did I think when nearly 30 years ago Mr. Halcombe informed me of the connection between the two, that I should ever make use of the knowledge, as is now being done.

(Another Instalment Next Week.)