Portrait of John McKinlay, from Oanagin, and explorer, from the S.A. Northern Pioneers' composite, 1850-1859 (shown in position on B 6912/2).

He migrated to Australia to join his uncle in New South Wales and later became a bushman in outback New South Wales before arriving in South Australia. By 1851 he held leases in the Flinders Ranges notably at Owanegan (there are many spellings of this: today it is known as Hannigan's Gap). His partner in many of these leases was James Pile of Gawler. The excessive stocking requirements in force in South Australia prior to 1855 meant he failed to hold all of the leases he claimed.

McKinlay was renowned as a bushman and an in 1861 the South Australian government selected him to lead a search to look for the Burke and Wills expedition. He crossed central Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria but failed to find any members of the Burke and Wills party. This was accomplished by A W Howitt. In 1866 the government sent him north to the Northern Territory to explore and find a better location for the main town than Escape Cliffs. Setting out as the Wet season arrived McKinlay becaming hopelessly bogged and cut off by the rising rivers, and made his escape down the East Alligator River in a punt made from the hides of his horses. He subsequently recommended Port Darwin as one of three possible sites for the main town.

McKinlay married Jane Pile, daughter of his friend, James Pile. He died at Gawler on 31 December 1872 age 53 and was buried at Willaston cemetery. There is a monument to McKinlay in Gawler. The foundation stone was laid by John Forrest.

McKinlay, John, 1819-1872

Burke and Wills Expedition