His victory was all his own; he had followed in no other person's footsteps; he had crossed the true centre, and he had made the coast at a point much further to the north than that reached by Burke and Wills, their journey having been considerably shortened by its northern end being placed on the southern shore of the great gulf that bites so deeply into north Australia.

Along Stuart's track there is now erected the Overland Telegraph Line, an enduring monument to his indomitable perseverance.
Stuart's health was fast failing, and his horses were sadly reduced in strength.

He therefore started back the day after the consummation of his dearest ambition.

On his way south, after leaving Newcastle Waters, he found the water in many of the short creeks heading from the Ashburton Range to be rapidly diminishing; in some there was none left, in others it was fast drying.

The horses commenced to give in rapidly one after the other, and more were lost on successive dry stages.