Legends of the Australian Outback - Lasseter's Reef
Mar 21, 2016 23:05:53 GMT
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Post by Tonnet on Mar 21, 2016 23:05:53 GMT
A claimed discovery of a fabulous gold reef 1100 kilometres west of Alice Springs by Harold Lasseter in 1929 sparked a great deal of interest. The reef was purported to be in the MacDonnell Ranges and that Lasseter had discovered this on his way to the Kalgoorlie goldfields in Western Australia, either in 1897 or around 1911 - the story varies.
Lasseter managed to raise a considerable sum to mount a search in 1930 including mechanised transport and an aeroplane to boot (this crashed during the search). The search was unsuccessful and Lasseter was abandoned by his companions. He carried on by himself but plagued by blindness and illness came to rest at his cave at Hull's Creek (now known as Hull River) about 140 kilometres west of The Olgas. He was cared for by an aboriginal family for quite some time and recorded his experience in a journal which was discovered later. After about 25 days he decided to make for The Olgas and hope of possible rescue. Three days into the journey he succumbed to malnutrition and exhaustion as he could carry little water and no food.
So a legend was born - his map of the location of the reef was found but it could not be deciphered as it had deteriorated to very small pieces.
Lasseter's Cave at Hull's Creek
As late as 2010, his son Bob never gave up the search - mounting 30 expeditions to solve the mystery and uphold the family name.
Lasseter managed to raise a considerable sum to mount a search in 1930 including mechanised transport and an aeroplane to boot (this crashed during the search). The search was unsuccessful and Lasseter was abandoned by his companions. He carried on by himself but plagued by blindness and illness came to rest at his cave at Hull's Creek (now known as Hull River) about 140 kilometres west of The Olgas. He was cared for by an aboriginal family for quite some time and recorded his experience in a journal which was discovered later. After about 25 days he decided to make for The Olgas and hope of possible rescue. Three days into the journey he succumbed to malnutrition and exhaustion as he could carry little water and no food.
So a legend was born - his map of the location of the reef was found but it could not be deciphered as it had deteriorated to very small pieces.
Lasseter's Cave at Hull's Creek
As late as 2010, his son Bob never gave up the search - mounting 30 expeditions to solve the mystery and uphold the family name.
