They had fought their way through the same species of danger that had environed the unfortunate Kennedy, and had all lived to tell the tale.

The Royal Geographical Society rewarded the labours of the two brothers by electing them Fellows of the Society, and by awarding them the Murchison medal.
Frank Jardine was for some period Government Resident at Thursday Island, whither the settlement has been removed; but of late he has resided at his own station at Somerset, and engaged in pearl-shelling.

Alec entered the Queensland civil service, as Roads Engineer, and in that capacity did much important work in the construction of the roads of that State.

In 1871 and 1872, he designed and constructed the road and railway-bridge over the Dawson River, and in 1890 he became Engineer-in-Chief for Harbours and Rivers.
But the scrubby and hilly nature of the country on Cape York militated against its speedy settlement, and it needed the lure of gold to induce men to risk their lives in a land with such hostile inhabitants.

In 1872 the Queensland Government decided upon another exploration of the neck of land that forms the northern-most point of Australia.