John Baxter (explorer)
Encyclopedia
John Baxter was a friend and companion of Edward John Eyre
on his crossing of the Nullarbor Plain
in 1840-1841. When the party was low on supplies and in desperate need of water, near the coast south of present-day Caiguna
in Nuytsland National Park, Baxter was murdered by Yarry and Joey, two of the aboriginies
with the group, who took guns and supplies then left only Eyre and Wylie
to complete the journey.
The expeditions was at or past the point of no return and morale was low. Edward John Eyre
and Wylie were fortunate to survive the journey to present day Albany.
The western Australian Historical Society organised an expedition to locate Baxters remains. His scattered bones were discovered approx. 3 km from the cliffs. His memorial is a concrete pillar erected in 1930 with a brass plaque reading "John Baxter, (explorer), The Companion Of, John Edward Eyre, Was Killed Here By Natives, April 29th 1841"
The memorial can be accessed by 4wd from Caiguna road house. It is approximately 35 km to Baxters memorial and a further 5 km to Baxters Lookout (cliffs). The land scape is flat and vegetation stunted. An over night stay at baxters lookout gives a feel for the expeditions predicament.
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
on his crossing of the Nullarbor Plain
Nullarbor Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
in 1840-1841. When the party was low on supplies and in desperate need of water, near the coast south of present-day Caiguna
Caiguna, Western Australia
Caiguna is a small roadhouse community located on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. It is the second stop east of Norseman on the long journey east across the Nullarbor Plain. Between Balladonia and Caiguna is a stretch of the highway which is one of the longest straight stretches of road in...
in Nuytsland National Park, Baxter was murdered by Yarry and Joey, two of the aboriginies
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
with the group, who took guns and supplies then left only Eyre and Wylie
Wylie (person)
Wylie was an indigenous Australian originally from the tribes around Albany in Western Australia. He accompanied Edward John Eyre to Adelaide by sea in May 1840, and would have left with Eyre on his expedition to penetrate to the interior in June of the same year, but Wylie was ill...
to complete the journey.
The expeditions was at or past the point of no return and morale was low. Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
and Wylie were fortunate to survive the journey to present day Albany.
The western Australian Historical Society organised an expedition to locate Baxters remains. His scattered bones were discovered approx. 3 km from the cliffs. His memorial is a concrete pillar erected in 1930 with a brass plaque reading "John Baxter, (explorer), The Companion Of, John Edward Eyre, Was Killed Here By Natives, April 29th 1841"
The memorial can be accessed by 4wd from Caiguna road house. It is approximately 35 km to Baxters memorial and a further 5 km to Baxters Lookout (cliffs). The land scape is flat and vegetation stunted. An over night stay at baxters lookout gives a feel for the expeditions predicament.