Vice-regal expedition to central Australia, 1923

Sir Tom Bridges, Governor of South Australia (1922–27), was enthusiastic about building a north–south railway to open up central Australia. But first he wanted to see the region for himself.

He assembled a distinguished party, including Herbert Basedow, for a three-week inspection by car. Three Dort four-cylinder touring vehicles were modified for the expedition and fitted with the largest tyres possible. Fuel for the 2,300-kilometre trip was sent on ahead by camel.

Guard-of-honour for the Governor of South Australia, Alice Springs, Northern Territory 1923. Two rows of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children face each other about two metres apart. The children are standing outside a single-storey building with a verandah and corrugated iron roof. A child toward the camera end in each row holds a Union Jack flag on a pole. Toward the rear of each row, close to the building, what may be the Northern Territory and South Australian flags are on taller poles. Several adults are in the background waiting for the Governor. The front half of a car is seen in the left foreground. - click to view larger image — Guard-of-honour for the Governor of South Australia, Sir Tom Bridges

The vice-regal party at breakfast, central Australia 1923. Seven non-Aboriginal men sit around a small table between two cars. On the table are plates, mugs and food. A tablecloth covers the table. Two of the men at left lean against the car on that side while two next to them sit on the car. One man appears to be sitting on a chair at the back of the table. The two men on the right sit on the car on that side. All wear suits; one wears a Trilby-style hat. - click to view larger image — The vice-regal party at breakfast

Aboriginal people collecting firewood for a 'corroboree', Alice Springs, Northern Territory 1923. About fourteen Aborginal women and children are walking loosely line abreast toward the camera. Many of the women carry large bundles of firewood on their heads. All in the group wear European clothing; the women have long skirts down to about half shin height. The group is in the middle ground. In the foreground is bare earth. In the background are stands of trees. In the distance is a large range, running the entire width of the image. A few dogs are with the group, walking close to the people or lagging behind. - click to view larger image — Collecting firewood for ‘corroboree’ held for the Governor of South Australia Sir Tom Bridges

Governor of South Australia Sir Tom Bridges planting a tree, Arltunga, Northern Territory 1923. The Governor is in the right foreground, bent over digging a hole with a short-handled shovel. He is dressed relatively informally i.e. trousers, jacket and hat, with no ceremonial garb. Behind him stands a non-Aboriginal man in a uniform. His lower body is obscured by the Governor. To the left of the image stand three other non-Aboriginal men, watching the Governor. One wears a hat, leather coat and trousers, one wears knee-length boots, trousers, waistcoat, jacket and hat and the last one wears trousers, jacket and a soft peaked cap. This man stands closest to the Governor. In the background is a rough wooden fence and part of a building made from timber and bricks. - click to view larger image — Governor of South Australia Sir Tom Bridges planting a tree

Battery building where gold-bearing rock was crushed, Arltunga, Northern Territory 1923. The building has a rectangular form and a rounded roof. It sits up on a raised section of land above an indistinct track in the foreground. A vehicle is parked in the far left foreround of the image; a man sits in the back on some baggage. The building has three openings of different sizes in the side facing the camera. A smaller building adjoins the battery at its right hand end. The battery's roofing material has weathered to a dark and light checkerboard-like pattern. A smokestack is visible toward the right end of the roof. - click to view larger image — Battery building where gold-bearing rock was crushed

Six Aboriginal dwellings, Hermannsburg, Northern Territory 1923. The walls and steeply pitched rooves of most dwellings are made from thatched and bound rushes. Two of the dwellings have walls that appear to be made from stone or brick. All of them have approximately square layouts. The dwelling with the tallest roof, near the image centre, has an extended roof line creating a verandah on at least the two visible sides. A single tall tree in the centre background rises above the dwellings. The foreground is open bare ground, stippled by many small undulations on its surface. - click to view larger image — Aboriginal dwellings

An expedition vehicle bogged on the Burt Plain, Northern Territory 1923. The vehicle, an open-topped car carrying expedition luggage, is bogged on a plain sparsely covered by knee-high bushes and scattered trees. The car is seen from behind; two deep wheel ruts lead from it to the image foreground. Two non-Aboriginal men are attempting to free the car. They are at each side. A third non-Aboriginal man in a suit and long coat stands to the right, watching them. Two other non-Aboriginal men are visible ahead of the car, with their backs to the camera. They appear to be studying the way ahead. The sky is filled with a heavy overcast and the threat of more rain. - click to view larger image — Bogged on the Burt Plain

Crown Point, southern Northern Territory 1923. A large rock plateau sits atop a hill. The plateau is seen in the distance, above trees in the middle ground. The plateau is quite distinct from the hill as it rises abruptly from the hill formation. The hill has areas of significant erosion on its sides. The ground beneath the trees is mostly bare, except for what appear to be small tufts of grass or wiindswept piles of leaf litter and other organic debris. The sun is not very high in the sky, as long shadows are cast by the trees. - click to view larger image — Crown Point

At Alice Springs, Aboriginal people lined both sides of the road to greet the party. Celebrations included a corroboree and the official party was entertained by the town's citizens at the jail, which doubled as a hall.

On their way back, they were advised that the terrain from Hermannsburg to Oodnadatta was unsuitable for motor vehicles. Nevertheless, they made it through triumphantly, in the first cars ever to travel the route.

Map outlining the expedition in 1923 through South Australia and the Northern Territory. The stylised map shows the expedition routes as white lines against an earthy yellow background. Lake Eyre is represented as two blue shapes in the bottom right hand corner of the map. Locations such as Marree, Oodnadatta, Alice Springs and Hermannsburg are indicated on the map. The South Australian-Northern Territory border is shown as well as the intersection of the South Australian, Northern Territory and Queensland borders, at the extreme right of the map. A small white map of Australia is at the left hand side of the main map, with a rectangle in it indicating the expedition area.

Map outlining the 1923 expedition route through central Australia

Vice-regal expedition to central Australia, 1923

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