MURRAY-DARLING RIVER EXPEDITION, 1850

HUTTON (FRANCIS FREDERICK) Sketch book recording an expedition along the Murray-Darling river basin in 1850, including landscape scenes, encampments and Aborigines, [1850]

Footnotes

THE SKETCH BOOK OF FRANCIS FREDERICK HUTTON (1826-1859), THE ARTIST ACCOMPANYING THE EXPEDITION LED BY SIR HENRY FOX YOUNG (1803-1870), GOVERNOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, ALONG THE MURRAY-DARLING RIVER BASIN IN 1850.

Governor Young and his crew embarked from the port of Goolwa in September 1850 with the intention of navigating the length of the Murray river to assess its suitability for the passage of steamships from the seaports to the hitherto inaccessible regions of central Australia. Hutton was invited to accompany the party as the expedition artist. Although an amateur, he would later establish himself in Tasmania, presenting several pieces at the Art-Treasures Exhibition of 1862. An oil portrait by him is on permanent display in the Allport Library in Hobart.

The experience of the expedition convinced Young that the river was the ideal solution, and he pledged a £2,000 reward to the first crew who could successfully navigate a paddle steamer along the Murray to its junction with the Darling. The challenge was completed by two rival teams, the future "River Murray Navigation Company" and "Murray River Company".

Beside an illustration of the Goolwa Reach, Hutton notes "The shipping place at the Goolwa in the river Murray is to be connected by tramway with Port Elliot, in Encounter Bay; then making it the port of export for the river; the true sea mouth of which is impractiable [sic]". The enthusiasm for Port Elliot proved to be misguided, as the bay was deceptively treacherous, resulting in several shipwrecks before the anchorage was moved to Granite Island in 1864.

Hutton's sketches include a full-length portrait of an aboriginal man, captioned "Nadbuck - accompanied Sturt on his expedition in 1828". A highly respected elder among the indigenous population, Nadbuck had acted as both a guide and interpreter for Sturt's expedition in 1844 (not 1828), and would feature prominently in Sturt's memoir of that expedition, eliciting various anecdotes about his roguish behaviour and puckish personality: "... I shall frequently have to speak of this our old friend Nadbuck. He had somewhat sedate habits, was restless, and exceedingly fond of the fair sex. He was a perfect politician in his way, and of essential service to us..." (Charles Sturt, Expedition into Central Australia, 1849).

Views include: the first day's encampment beyond Gawler Town; the police station at Moorundie; four miles north of Mt. Hancock; the junction of the Rufus-Murray rivers; near the Darling; the junction between the Murray and Darling rivers; encampment on the Darling; public house on the Darling; native encampment; ?Crosico's Run, Port Philip; special survey; ?Telikki on the Murray; encampment between Wellington and Moorundie; Telonga, on the Murray; scene on the Murray; view from a hill two days journey from Moorundie; native grave at Wellington; night encampment by Lake Alexandrina; the inn at Wellington; the Goolwa Reach and Port Elliot in Encounter Bay. Portraits include ?Tipproarnie; William; ?Jompal; Nasamma; Nadbuck; Moorundie Jimmy; Moapoak and Lubia with a child.

The State Library of New South Wales holds a collection of Governor Young's papers including those relating to the navigation of the River Murray.

Provenance: "F.F. Hutton, Sept. 10 1850", ownership inscription on front paste-down; nineteenth century armorial bookplate, possibly of the Acraman family; Pamela M. Loade, Hassocks, ownership label pasted-in on front paste-down.