UNKNOWN AUSTRALIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 April 1928, Page 4

UNKNOWN AUSTRALIA.

The population of Australia is concentrated in the larger centres to such a degree that it has been said the average citizen has a very vague idea of the vast expanse of the Commonwealth and practically no knowledge of what is often termed “the back-of-beyond. ” Recently an expedition set out t'O traverse the continent from east to west, and now another party has announced its intention to explore the vast unknown tracts in the far north of the Northern Territory. It may seem strange that a virile and adventurous people such as the Australians have proved themselves to be should have been, so dilatory in exploring their own country, but many hold that there are really few areas which the white man has not traversed. What is lacking is an authentictoccount. of their journeyings, for the men who have felt the

call of the open spaces have 'been of the silent type, and probably did not realise that their wanderings' would bo of any value or of any interest to others. The earliest reports of the north-west coast were decidedly unfavourable. Admiral Dampier, who landed in .1688, said that it was an unattractive and inhospitable place, and the first official settlement, made in 1824, was designed to servo purely a military purpose. A century ago the Northern Territory was part of New South Wales, but that State was quite ready, in 1863, to hand it over to South Australia. Since 1911 it has been under the direct control of the Federal Government, and has proved a problem in more ways than one. The Territory has an area of 523,600 square miles, and the population, exclusive of aborigines, is only about 4000. In a review of adgricultural production there an official report issued in 1926 stated: “The outlook for agriculture is not bright, active settlers only number fourteen, and an aggregate area of 'only about 300 acres is under: cultivation. ’ ’ Lack of means of com- 1 munieation is said to be the chief drawback, and aviation and wireless are held to offer greater possibilities in this part of Aiis>tT'alia, tlia-n in any other. -Already 111ov liavo proved of immense •benefit, and it is hoped that they will assist in the settlement of the more productive areas. The reports of the northern party should be of interest, as it. will go beyond the.furthest boundary of existing occupation, and probably far beyond the isolated spots where those men who .love the open spaces have sought freedom from 1 all the trammels of civilisation.