Peter Warburton facts for kids

Peter Egerton Warburton (born 1813, died 1889) was an English officer who worked in both the navy and the army. He became well-known as an explorer in Australia.

Warburton also served as the head of the police force in South Australia. He was hired by the South Australian government to replace another explorer, Benjamin Herschel Babbage, because they felt Babbage was working too slowly.

Early Explorations in South Australia

Peter Warburton led several trips into the desert areas between 1856 and 1874. He discovered a way through a group of salt lakes north of Adelaide in South Australia. These lakes had previously stopped explorers from travelling further north.

Discovering Water Sources

During his explorations, Warburton visited natural underground springs. He named these special water sources Coward Springs. These springs are part of an artesian aquifer, which is a large underground area where water is stored.

Naming the Davenport Range

He also explored a mountain range which he named the Davenport Range. He named it after Sir Samuel Davenport, who was an important politician in South Australia. A politician is someone who works in government and helps make decisions for the country or state.

Crossing Australia's Great Sandy Desert

In 1872, Peter Warburton became the first person to cross Australia from its centre, starting near Alice Springs, all the way to the coast of Western Australia. This was a very difficult and dangerous journey.

Challenges of the Journey

He had to cross the Great Sandy Desert, a huge and very dry area. This trip was so hard that he lost sight in one eye. He became so ill that he had to be tied to his camel to finish the journey. His group was forced to eat most of their camels to survive because they ran out of food.

Survival Thanks to Indigenous Guide

Warburton later said that the only reason his group survived was because of the amazing skills of their Indigenous Australian guide, Charley. Charley's knowledge of the land and survival techniques was crucial.

Recognition and Reward

In 1875, Peter Warburton was given a special award called a CMG, which stands for Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. This is an honour given by the British government for important service. He also received £1000 as a reward for his brave and important explorations.