O'Gradys Well NT

Submitted: Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 06:27

ThreadID: 49256 Views:3113 Replies:5 FollowUps:5

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Willem

I am looking for any information on O'Grady's Well, Northern Territory, in the Lake Mackay Aboriginal Trust Lands. UTM 535 711 E 75 63 282N Natmap Raster Topo 1M (although Topo 250K gives a different position)

Michael Terry came upon it whilst exploring this area in the 1930's.

Apparently this well was carved into sandstone with steps leading down to the water. This is quite foreign as Aboriginal people did not necessarily have the implements to do such work.

I would like to go there and have a look, if permission can be obtained. Trouble is, it will be around 400km return of cross country off-track driving from the nearest station.

Cheers

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Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 07:37

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 07:37

I'll keep you company Willem - the young bloke has fired me up on this one too .
Willie .

AnswerID: 260032

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 08:16

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 08:16

No worries mate, but yer better start saving up for some MRF Tyres....lol

Maybe we can look to do it sometime the winter of 2008

Cheers

FollowupID: 521483

Reply By: equinox - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 21:25

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 21:25

I can find only one reference to it Willem, in Terry's book, "War of the Warramullas". It certainly has an interesting description as you say.

Warburton went very close to it in 1872-74 but I do not have access to his journal to check.

400km offtrack seems excessive. On my map if you follow station tracks west from Vaughan Springs and Treuer Range and along a track running along Ethel Creek you can get within 50kms to Sanford Cliffs, which is in the vicinity of your co-ords.

Good luck you two!!

Alan

Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.

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AnswerID: 260174

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 21:40

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 21:40

Al

I have a map from Terry's book Sand and Sun

I guesstimated from Vaughan Springs via Oziexplorer about 200km to Sandford Cliffs where the one position is shown on Natmap 1M Topo. The other position is shown about 50km to the east of that position on 250K Topo. Later I saw some station tracks halfway along Ethel Creek on the map. So maybe it will not be that extreme. Another alternative is to go in from Nirrippi and take a Traditional Owner with us. Have to start working on it soon.
All of this is planned to take place on our way back from Cape York next year.

Cheers

FollowupID: 521573

Reply By: Harry - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 22:37

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 22:37

G'day Willem,
Well I might be able to help with that 1 for you.
A group of our guys might be back or just getting back from a trip from Mt Webb to Lake McKay and onto the Tanami and I daresay Ron would have checked out O'Grady's on the way through.
I'll see what I can find out.

AnswerID: 260192

Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 00:18

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 00:18

Thanks in advance, Harry. It seems like a good project. I have an old mate who is intrigued by it and so I have spurred him on to start organising access etc as he is familiar with elders in the areas adjacent to Lake Mackay.

Cheers

FollowupID: 521606

Reply By: Harry - Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 20:24

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 20:24

Have spoken to Ron and they went up the west side of Lake McKay and finished up in Balgo.
So the answer to O'Grady's is no unfortunately, but he is Emailing the track file to me and I will pass that on.
They had 29 punctures between 8 vehicles and the vehicle that had none was on MTR's. ( I got those) :>))
I did say to email straight to you but he had other things happening so I left it at that.
Was very rough, so sounds as though the bull-bar was working overtime.

AnswerID: 260364

Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 20:45

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 20:45

Thanks Harry

Driving on radials cross country is fraught with danger. I destroyed a set of Coopers that way. Thats why I have switched back to crossplies for bush work and only use tubeless for bitumen driving.

Cheers

FollowupID: 521768

Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 20:50

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 20:50

Willie

A coupla thoughts for you - however, you may have checked these or similar avenues out already?

1) ask Dick Kimber.
2) see what the NT library has on line.
3) a bit remoter possibility, but check the SLSA (SA state library)website for M Terry, Lake Mackay, D Carnegie, the Elder Expedition, the Calvert Expedn., Alfred Canning, etc etc etc.
4) ask the Royal Geographical Society of SA.

Cheers,
Rick.

PS Plurry cold down here the last few nights!

AnswerID: 260370