Carnegie expedition of 1896

Much of the area was unexplored and unmapped, so Carnegie hoped to find good pastoral or gold-bearing land and make a name for himself as an explorer.

(Note 4) On 2 November, with their journey nearing completion, a number of Carnegie's camels ate poisonous plants, and three died.

Four weeks later, with the party only eight miles (13 km) from the Derby– Halls Creek road, Stansmore slipped while crossing a ridge and dropped his gun.

The remaining members of the party reached Halls Creek in early December, after a journey of 149 days and 1,413 miles (2,274 km).

(Note 5) On arriving at Halls Creek, the party was informed that two members of the Calvert Exploring Expedition were missing in the desert.

(Note 6) Carnegie's expedition was originally intended to terminate at Halls Creek, but since they had found no gold-bearing or pastoral land, the party decided to continue exploring by returning to Coolgardie by a more easterly overland route.

However, the three horses that replaced the three lost camels needed regular and generous watering, leading to the party experiencing similar hardships to their northerly trip.