Reporting the findings
This short report was sent by Tietkens from the Charlotte Waters telegraph station to the secretary of the Geographical Association. It is now part of a large collection of documents and correspondence relating to the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.
The main aim of the expedition was to establish whether there were any reliable, useful water sources in the area. As Tietkens reports below: 'native wells & a few claypans were the only descriptions of water met with'.
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Report of the Central Australian Exploring Expedition telegraphed to Hon. Sec. Royal Geographical Society of Australia, Victoria, by W.H. Tietkens, written July 25th, received August 10, 1889.
Telegraph A 36 pp.175-179
Transcription
Victoria
450 Free – 673
Telegraph Branch No 1 Telegram
Time lodged [indecipherable] Time recd. 11.40 am
From Charlotte Waters S.A. Date, 10/8/1889
To Hon Secy Royal Geographical Society Melbn,
The expedition of the Central Australian Exploring and prospecting association under my command arrived at Erldunda on July 22nd Party all well the principal incidents and features of the journey I have the honor to lay before you – The expedition left Glen Edith May 10th while there experienced four days and five nights of almost incessant rain 40 miles west of Glen Edith discovered and named the Cleland Hills and Gills Creek flowing south and twelve miles of running water extent of good country limited in long 129º.15 south lat 23º.33’.49” discovered & named the Beetsons
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Hills & three miles of running water extent of available country limited. In East long 128º 45’ south lat 23º.10’ discovered & named the Kintore range the highest Peaks Mr Leisler & Mt Strickland 1500 feet above the plains here we experienced three days heavy rains – In south lat 23º 22’ East long 128º 15’ discovered & named lake McDonald after Macdonald the Hon secy of Victorian Branch it extends westerly to East long 127º 50’ its south shore being in lat 23º40’ a little good saltbush & grass country with claypans round the lake south of the Kintore range visited & named
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the Davenport Hills in lat 23º.40’ from there travelled south Easterly through the extent of the probable outline of lake Amadeus to Bloods range the Highest peaks named Mt Harris & Mt Carruthers Being 1400 feet above the plains Mt Unapproachable in longs (?) range marks the West extremity of lake Amadeus its south shore north of Mt Olga being in lat 24º.39’.16”
I regret to say that at lake Amadeus two camels partook of a poison plant from the effects of which one died at Mt. Olga the other unable to travel after a weeks rest was left there. Visited Ayers Rock Mr Gosses marked tree
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has been burnt down by the blacks near Mr Connor discovered a small spring travelling northward from there discovered & named the Basedour range from there travelled Easterly over better country until I arrived here receiving a most cordial & hospitable reception from Messrs Warburton & Tomlin to Mr Warburtons kindness we are indebted for conveying this message to the Telegraph line the general character of the country passed over has been spinifex sandhills & plains with extensive forests of casuarina
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no blacks were seen though they were frequently about us Rock Reservoirs native wells & a few claypans were the only descriptions of water met with
W.H. Tietkins
Erldunda
July 25th 1889