John Baxter

Who was John Baxter?

John Baxter was a friend and companion of Edward John Eyre on his crossing of the Nullarbor Plain in 1840-1841. When the party was low on supplies and in desperate need of water, near the coast south of present-day Caiguna in Nuytsland National Park, Baxter was murdered by Yarry and Joey, two of the aboriginies with the group, who took guns and supplies then left only Eyre and Wylie to complete the journey.

The expeditions was at or past the point of no return and morale was low. Edward John Eyre and Wylie were fortunate to survive the journey to Albany.

The Western Australian Historical Society organised an expedition to locate Baxters remains. His scattered bones were discovered approx. 3 km from the cliffs. His memorial is a concrete pillar erected in 1930 with a brass plaque reading "John Baxter, (explorer), The Companion Of, John Edward Eyre, Was Killed Here By Natives, April 29th 1841"

The memorial can be accessed by 4wd from Caiguna road house. It is approximately 35 km to Baxters memorial and a further 5 km to Baxters Lookout. The land scape is flat and vegetation stunted. An overnight stay at Baxters Lookout gives a feel for the expeditions predicament.