Central Mount Stuart facts for kids

Central Mount Stuart is a mountain located in the southern part of the Northern Territory, Australia. It's easy to spot from the nearby Stuart Highway, which is only about 6 km away. This mountain is made of dark red sandstone.

Who Was John McDouall Stuart?

Central Mount Stuart is named after a famous explorer named John McDouall Stuart. He first arrived in this area on April 22, 1860. Stuart believed that a spot about 4 km south-southwest of the mountain was the exact centre of Australia. However, today's geographers have found the true centre to be in a different place, near a town called Finke.

Climbing to the Top

The day after he arrived, on April 23, 1860, Stuart climbed to the very top of the mountain. He wrote in his journal about how challenging the climb was. Once at the summit, he and his companion, Kekwick, placed a small bottle with their signatures inside. They also raised a flag and cheered loudly. This flag was a symbol of freedom and new beginnings.

The Message in the Bottle

Years later, in 1871, another explorer named John Ross found Stuart's bottle. This happened while the Australian Overland Telegraph Line was being built. Today, the slip of paper from that bottle is kept safely in the Library of South Australia.

How the Mountain Got Its Name

When John McDouall Stuart first named the mountain, he called it "Central Mount Sturt." He did this to honor his former expedition leader, Charles Sturt. But soon after Stuart returned to Adelaide from his journey, the name was changed. The Governor of South Australia, Sir Richard MacDonnell, suggested the name be changed to Central Mount Stuart. This is the name that was used when Stuart's expedition journal was published.

Images for kids

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  A view looking north from the very top of Central Mount Stuart.