Summary

Members of the Horn Expedition assembled at Heavitree Gap, Alice Springs. Baldwin Spencer is standing fourth from the right. In May of 1894 the Expedition set out on the backs of 25 camels from Oodnadatta, which was at that time, the end of the railway line. It now consisted of the original expedition party, two Afghan camel drivers, two Aboriginal trackers, two general assistants and a cook. This photograph was taken by Frank Gillen upon arrival of the expedition in Alice Springs. Spencer wrote, 'Our daily programme when on the march was much the same, day after day. We were usually up some time before sunrise, we had breakfast and the camels were brought in. Each of us loaded his own (camel) and then off we started in single file. After perhaps 10 or 12 miles came the midday halt, when we were glad of any shelter afforded by the thin scrub. Mounting again we travelled on until dusk.........The camp fires were lighted, notes were written up, specimens labelled and packed away, and then, after a final pipe we lay down and slept in the open. ' (Spencer and Gillen, Across Australia, Vol 1 1912 p.40). Lasting three months, the expedition findings in all areas of study, was widely acclaimed.

Physical Description

Silver gelatin emulsion. Half plate. Two plates depicting same image.

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