John Ross (explorer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ross
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John Ross around 1900
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| Born | 17 May 1817 Bridgend, Scotland
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| Died | 5 February 1903 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Drover, explorer |
| Known for | Leading exploration for the route of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line |
| Children | 3 |
John Ross (born May 17, 1817 – died February 5, 1903) was a brave Scottish-Australian explorer. He was also a drover, which means he moved large groups of livestock like cattle or sheep across long distances. John Ross is best known for leading a major expedition to find the best path for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. This important line helped connect Australia to the rest of the world.
Contents
John Ross: An Australian Explorer
Early Life and Journey to Australia
John Ross was born in a place called Bridgend in Scotland. He decided to move to Australia when he was 20 years old. He arrived in Sydney on August 31, 1837. His first job in Australia was working as a shepherd, looking after sheep for a man named George Macleay.
In 1838, John Ross joined Charles Bonney on an important journey. They were part of the first group to drive cattle from the Goulburn River all the way to Adelaide. After this, Ross became very good at managing large sheep farms in South Australia. He also started exploring new areas.
Leading the Telegraph Line Expedition
In 1869, John Ross explored the Stevenson River and named some mountains. He called them Mount Sarah, Mount Rebecca, Mount Alexander, and Mount John. He named these mountains after his own children.
A year later, in 1870, a man named Thomas Elder suggested John Ross to Charles Todd. Todd was in charge of telegraphs and was a government astronomer. Todd hired Ross to lead a very important expedition. Their mission was to find the best route for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. This telegraph line would connect the south of Australia to the north.
Ross and his team traveled through many challenging places. They crossed the MacDonnell Ranges and the vast Simpson Desert. They also explored the Phillipson and Giles creeks and the Fergusson Ranges. During their journey, they reached the Todd River. In March 1871, John Ross arrived at a special place and gave it an English name: Alice Springs. However, he later found out that another European, W. W. Mills, had been there before him. Eventually, Ross's party successfully made their way all the way to Darwin.
Later Explorations and Life
After his work on the telegraph line, John Ross was hired by Thomas Elder again. This time, he was asked to explore the area between Peake and Perth. Unfortunately, this exploration was not successful because they could not find enough fresh water.
Later in his life, John Ross managed properties in other parts of Australia. He worked in both Victoria and Queensland. He eventually returned to Norwood in South Australia. John Ross passed away in Adelaide in 1903.
