McKinlay Monument

Fast Facts

Place type:	Building
Town or Locality:	Gawler
Year constructed:	1875

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John McKinlay, a Scot by birth, was hired by the South Australian Government in 1861 to lead a search for Burke and Wills. They had left Melbourne earlier that year on an expedition to cross the continent of Australia from the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Unknown to McKinlay, Burke and Wills had already perished before McKinlay left Adelaide in August 1861. He successfully located their graves and carried on to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Despite great deprivation and unrest within his expedition party, McKinlay and his party survived and he returned to Adelaide in 1862.

Not long after his return, McKinlay married Jane Pile, the daughter of Gawler businessman, James Pile. They resided at "Oaklands" at Gawler. McKinlay met Pile in about 1850 after McKinlay had taken up land on the Murray and Darling rivers. McKinlay also tendered on, and won, land leases for Pile.

In 1865 McKinlay was again called upon to serve the South Australian Government by leading an expedition to the Northern Territory. He was tasked with reporting on the suitability of the land to the south of the Gulf of Carpentaria for European settlement.

After his return from the Northern Territory, McKinlay is said to have remained in Gawler, taking an interest in community affairs. He died on 31 December 1872. McKinlay had obviously made an impression on the people of Gawler in the short time he lived there. In 1875 the McKinlay Monument was erected with the following dedication: "Erected by many colonists as a memorial to John McKinlay, a chief amongst Australian explorers, and leader in search of Burke and Wills, 1861. Born at Sandbank, Argyleshire, Scotland, August 26, 1819; died at Oaklands, Gawler, December 31, 1872. 'Brave yet gentle, resolute unassuming, Formed to command - yet stern to none Who knew to obey; He was at once admired and loved. To his country he has bequeathed a name Which she may proudly add to the bead-roll Of her distinguished men'."

External Links

• www.gawlerlibrary.sa.gov.au
• [[1]]

References

• Gawler Public Library Historical Pamphlet "John McKinlay"

"Oaklands" at Gawler East, the house of James Pile where John McKinlay spent his final years.

McKinlay Monument, Murray street, Gawler. Date unknown but after 16jun1899 [see Bunyip Trove re Council's installation of lamp].

Mckinlay Monument, Murray Street, Gawler. Date unknown but after 16jun1899 [see Trove Bunyip]

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