Friday, 25th July. Charles Creek, Van Diemen’s Gulf.  I have sent Thring to the south-west to see if he can get round the marsh.  If it is firm ground I shall endeavour to make the mouth of the river by that way.  After a long search he has returned, and informs me that it is impracticable, being too boggy for the horses.  As the great object of this expedition is now attained, and the mouth of the river already well known, I do not think it advisable to waste the strength of my horses in forcing them through, neither do I see what object I should gain by doing so; they have still a very long and fatiguing journey in recrossing the continent to Adelaide, and my health is so bad that I am unable to bear a long day’s ride.  I shall, therefore, cross this creek and see if I can get along by the sea-beach, or close to it.  Started and had great difficulty in getting the horses over, though we cut a large quantity of grass, putting it on the banks and on logs of wood which were put into it.  We had a number bogged, and I was nearly losing one of my best horses, and was obliged to have him pulled out with ropes; after the loss of some time we succeeded in getting them all over safely.  At two miles came upon an open part of the beach, went on to it, and again found the mud quite impassable for horses.  Stopped the party, as this travelling is too much for the horses, and, taking Thring with me, rode two miles to see if the ground was any firmer in places; found it very soft where the salt water had covered it, in others not so bad.  Judging from the number of the shells banked up in different places, the sea must occasionally come over this.  I saw at once that this would not do for the weak state in which my horses were, and I therefore returned to where I left the party, resolving to re-cross the continent to the City of Adelaide.  I now had an open place cleared, and selecting one of the tallest trees, stripped it of its lower branches, and on its highest branch fixed my flag, the Union Jack, with my name sewn in the centre of it.  When this was completed, the party gave three cheers, and Mr. Kekwick then addressed me, congratulating me on having completed this great and important undertaking, to which I replied.  Mr. Waterhouse also spoke a few words on the same subject, and concluded with three cheers for the Queen, and three for the Prince of Wales.  At one foot south from the foot of the tree is buried, about eight inches below the ground, an air-tight tin case, in which is a paper with the following notice: 

“South Australian Great Northern Exploring Expedition.  The exploring party, under the command of John McDouall Stuart arrived at this spot on the 25th day of July, 1862, having crossed the entire continent of Australia from the Southern to the Indian Ocean, passing through the centre.  They left the City of Adelaide on the 26th day of October 1861, and the most northern station of the colony on 21st day of January, 1862.  To commemorate this happy event, they have raised this flag bearing his name.  All well.  God Save the Queen!”