The Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition was intended to explore all those parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory not covered by the 1891 Elder Expedition, mostly parts of the Great Sandy Desert. It was funded by English engineer Albert Frederick Calvert (whose local agent was Alexander Magarey) and under the auspices of the South Australian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. Led by Lawrence Wells, the Expedition left Mullewa, Western Australia, on 13 June 1896, reaching Lake Carnegie in late July. From there they pushed north, in two parties, both of which suffered from lack of water. The camels also suffered from eating poisonous plants and became exhausted from crossing sandhills. The main party under L. Wells reached the Fitzroy River in November and was able to send word to Adelaide. Search parties were organised, in which L. Wells took part, to find Charles Wells and George Jones, members of the second party. Their bodies were ultimately discovered in 1897: they had died of thirst and extreme heat. Although some of the collected specimens of Keartland and Jones were abandoned in the field, scientific results of the Expedition were published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, while other collected specimens and native artifacts were exhibited at the Society's meetings.
Members of the Expedition were:
Lawrence Allen Wells (1860 - 1938) leader and surveyor;
Charles Frederick Wells (1849 - 1896) second in command (and cousin of Lawrence);
George Lindsay Jones (1878 - 1896) mineralogist and photographer;
George Keartland (1848 - 1926) naturalist;
James Trainor, cook;
Dervish Bejah and Said Ameer, camel drivers.
13 June 1896
13 June 1896
Event - Departed Mullewa. Western Australia
27 July 1896
27 July 1896
Event - Reached Lake Carnegie, Western Australia
14 September 1896
14 September 1896
Event - Departed from base camp, in 2 parties
4 November 1896
4 November 1896
Event - Main party reached Fitzroy River