Royal Geographical Society of SA - The story of Cecil Thomas Madigan: Ron researches some early history in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
The recent transformation of inland South Australia from dry and inhospitable desert to an ever expanding floodplain would certainly have intrigued Cecil Thomas Madigan - one of this State's great unsung heroes.
He knew this country better than most - having flown over it and having crossed it by camel - on epic journeys of exploration and science during his days with the Geology Department at Adelaide University.
His battles with this often hostile environment led him to describe it as "ten inches or nothing country". It's an apt description for country which more often than not bakes under a fierce and relentless sun but ever so occasionally springs to life when the heavens open.
Madigan Bay on Lake Eyre is just one small sign of this South Australian's impact on the map of inland Australia. In fact Madigan was flying over this country long before the scenic flights of today.
Colin Harris, Royal Geographical Society of SA: "These ere some aerial photographs taken in the course of Madigan's 1929 aerial inspections of Lake Eyre and the Simpson Desert. It was a pioneering effort really. It was certainly the first time that vertical aerial photography was being attempted."
Today squadron's of tourist flights take local, interstate and international visitors over this country with their cameras at the ready. But Madigan was the first. He'd seen the awesome potential of the airplane for reconnaissance work while serving in World War One where he was mentioned in dispatches. Prior to that he'd made a name for himself as a polar explorer - but always in the shadow of that other great South Australian Sir Douglas Mawson. In fact Madigan was one of the party left to wait a full year at the Australian Antarctic base for the return of Mawson, following his ill-fated trip in which two colleagues Mertz and Ninnis died.
Colin Harris: "He got the King’s Polar Medal for his exploits down there. He was very highly regarded for the work that he did down there with Mawson."
Returning from his polar, wartime and civil service adventures in the Sudan, this Rhodes Scholar took up a post under Mawson at Adelaide Uni which he held for the next twenty five years. And it was during this time that he discovered his real love for Central Australia.
Rod Shearing, Royal Geographical Society of SA: "He started to think more about what we now know as the Simpson Desert which he'd flown over in that aerial reconnaissance. The opportunity eventually came in 1939 for him to take a scientific expedition into the desert with camels. It was a successful crossing and they did a lot of important work on natural history and geology. That’s the work Madigan is mainly remembered for."
In fact it was Cecil Thomas Madigan who named it the Simpson Desert. Prior to 1929 it was known as the Arrente Desert, after the local aboriginal people of the region.
Madigan's story is told at the Mortlock Library. It houses the collection of the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The society backed many expeditions including those led by Cecil Thomas Madigan and still backs field trips today.
Rod Shearing, Royal Geographical Society of SA: "So if you're a potential Madigan out there in the suburbs wanting head into the north of South Australia come and have a look and see what we've got, get inspired. Get up close to some of the things that were important in the geography of the past and will be important I'm sure in the geography of the future."
The Royal Geographical Society's historical collection is on the top floor at the southern end of the Mortlock wing of the library on North Terrace. It's open Tuesday to Friday from 10am until 1pm. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Royal Geographical Society of SA
Mortlock Wing
State Library of SA
Open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 1pmPublished 29th August 2010
