The first explorers to cross Australia
John Stuart decided to cross Australia from south to north in 1859. He wanted to win a prize offered by the South Australian government. This mean to travel across mountains and desert for 3.000 kilometers. He and his three companions kept riding for eight months before reaching the center of the continent. What had they expected to find? So far they had only succeeded in discovering a huge desert. On this expedition Stuart failed to reach the coast, and turned back ill and short of food. He tried to complete the journey they next year, but failed again.
Finally in 1861 he managed to arrive at the northern coast, near the modern city of Darwin. Ever since he has been famous for crossing the continent, though sadly he died soon after his return to Adelaide.
