Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Report on the Work Horn Scientific Expedition; Central Australia: Part 1. Introduction, Narrative, Summary of Results, Supplement to Zoological Report, Map
The scientific exploration of Central Australia, more particularly that portion known as the McDonnell Ranges, had for many years been desired by the leading scientific men in Australia, some of whom hold the opinion that when the rest of the continent was submerged the elevated portions of the McDonnell Range existed as an island, and that consequently older forms of life might be found in the more inaccessible parts. Travellers' tales also of the manners and customs of the natives, and the varieties of plants and animal life in these remote regions, had aroused a widespread interest, and at the solicitation of a few scientific friends I resolved to organise and equip a party, composed of scientific men, to throughly explore this belt of country. The proposition was received with great favour in Australia, and numerous applications were made, and even premiums altered, by gentlemen anxious to join the Expedition. The failure, however of previous Expeditions made it necessary to exercise great care in the selection of the various members, so as to avoid the disasters, in the shape of internal dissensions, which had wrecked the others. In order to secure the services of the best men in Australia I decided to make it a semi-national undertaking, and to this end invitations were extended to the Premiers of the principal Colonies, asking them to nominate scientific representatives.
The Premiers of the Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia responded most cordially. Victoria, partly through the generous influence of Lord Hopetoun, nominated Professor Balwin Spencer, of the Melbourne University. New South Wales nominated Mr. J. Alexander Watt, of the Sydney University, and South Australia nominated Professor Ralph Tate, F.L.S. and Dr. Edward Striling, F.R.S., both of the Adelaide University. Mr. C. A. Winnecke, F.R.G.S., was chosen as the surveyor and meteorologist, and the fact that, in addition to piloting the party to such points as they wished to visit, this gentlemen traversed and plotted about 27,000 square miles of country, and also made a series of valuable meteorological observations, speaks for itself.
The general public were for some time under the impression that the Expedition was going out in search of gold. They could not understand a body of scientific gentlemen going into a desert country, giving up their time and services, and submitting to all the dangers, discomforts and hardships attendant upon the life for any other reason.
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