John McDouall Stuart was born in 1815 in Dysart in Fife. After leaving school he graduated as a civil engineer and at the age of 23 he left Scotland for South Australia settling in Adelaide.
Although not well known in his native land, Stuart was probably the greatest inland explorer of Australia and is well recognised as that. In 1862 he became the first man to reach the centre of Australia and the first to cross the continent.
His name is remembered in Australia by the Stuart highway linking Adelaide to Darwin, Central Mount Stuart the geographical centre of Australia is named after him, and Alice Springs was first named ‘Stuart’ after him. In fact Lodge 219 in Alice Springs is named Lodge John McDouall Stuart. Stuart was a member of Lodge Truth No.8 in Adelaide joining in 1860 just before his historic expedition. There is a statute of him in Adelaide and each year a wreath is laid at it in remembrance of him.