The Canning Stock Route is a track that runs from Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Wiluna in the mid-west region. With a total distance of around 1,850 km it is the longest historic stock route in the world.
Alfred Canning surveyed the track at the beginning of the twentieth century, and by 1910 his party had successfully made 52 wells that would allow cattle to be walked for a day to reach the next watering point.
Canning's team of builders had constructed the wells with the forced help of Aboriginal people whose land the route traversed, including Martu and Wangkatjungka people. (japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/the-c…)
From the beginning, Canning planned to use Aboriginal people to lead him to the water, soaks and springs. He took neck chains and handcuffs with him to ensure that his local Aboriginal ‘guides’ stayed with the party for as long as he needed them.
Canning himself found it difficult to locate desert water sources. In order to gain assistance in locating water along the track, Canning captured several desert men, chained them, forced them to eat salt, and then waited until they got thirsty enough to lead his party to water.
The expedition’s, camp cook Edward Blake, disapproved of the treatment of Aboriginal ppl during the expedition, esp. the treatment of women. Blake took his concerns to authorities in Perth and Canning’s treatment of Aboriginal ppl became the subject of a royal commission in 1908.
Canning was ultimately cleared by the Royal Commission both on the strength of his achievement and on the fact that it was only Blake’s word against his. He was then commissioned to return to the desert to construct wells where necessary
to ensure reliable access to the water.
to ensure reliable access to the water.
NB: not everything named Canning in WA is named after that one… there’s an English PM of the same surname I believe.
That’s not to argue against name changes tho; why tf should anything in this country be named after an English PM?! Just pointing out for accuracy’s sake because accuracy is good.
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