THIS week marks 175 years since the expedition party of famed explorer captain Charles Sturt passed through Gawler as part of its exploration into Central Australia.

Sturt carried out three expeditions of Australia in his lifetime, which collectively have been accredited as providing the catalyst for the establishment of the colony of South Australia.

On August 10, 1844 – for his third and final exploration – Sturt, driven by a desire to discover an ‘inland sea’ at the centre of the country, had his expedition party depart Adelaide and stopover in Gawler, known then as ‘Gawler Town’, from August 13-16.

They stayed at the Calton Hotel on Murray Street, which originally traded as The Golden Fleece and was later renamed to The Old Spot – the hotel has since returned to its original title.

Upon arriving in Gawler, “the inhabitants received them (the party) with much kindness, and actively assisted them in fording the Gawler River, which, from the late rains, had become deep and rapid,” according to a South Australian Register newspaper article published at the time.

“Here they encamped for the night, amidst the hospitalities of the townsmen, and on Wednesday morning were invited by Mr Henry Calton to an excellent breakfast and afterwards treated by him with an excellent speech,” the article continued.

Sturt arrived in town a few days later, penning his experience in his book titled, ‘Narrative of an Expedition into Central Australia’.

“We reached Gawler Town late at night, and there obtained intelligence that the expedition had passed Angus Park all well,” he wrote.

“I also learnt that Mr Calton, the master of the hotel, had given the men a sumptuous breakfast as they passed through the town, and that they had been cheered with much enthusiasm by the people.”

A plaque commemorating the visit of Sturt’s party to Gawler can be found at the top end of Murray Street, affixed on a wall between the B Music and Sportspower Zorich Group stores.

Charles Sturt Memorial Museum secretary Margaret Phillips, along with members of the group, held a memorial at Sturt’s colonial home in Grange over the weekend to commemorate the 175-year anniversary of his expedition to Central Australia.

“He was always classed as the founder of South Australia, and was always classed as one of the most important explorers in Australia for the fact his trip down The River Murray was actually the impetus to start South Australia as a province,” she said.