Sturt's failure to reach the centre of the continent inspired Stuart's later achievements. John McDouall Stuart was undeterred by the desolation witnessed while on Sturt’s expedition, but profiting by its warnings, he made repeated examinations of the country in the vicinity of Lake Torrens searching for pastoral areas, in which he was highly successful. In 1854 John McDouall Stuart was engaged to survey and prospect for minerals in the northern Flinders Ranges by James and John Chambers and William Finke. During these journeys Stuart made the important discovery that the vast shallow depression that had baffled Mr. Eyre is not the continuous salt marsh it was by him supposed to be. Between May 1858 and January 1860 he led three expeditions int the Lake Eyre region, and found a succession of artesian springs between the northern limit of Lake Torrens and the southern extremity of Lake Eyre, the deposit from which formed mounds rising considerably above the level of the surrounding country. These and other permanent waters enabled him to fix a new base for northern exploration, and suggest a more practicable route. Being suitably equipped by the public spirit of his employers, he led a strong party in that direction. On April 14th, 1860, he sighted what he called a most remarkable hill —like a locomotive with a funnel. The latter proved to be a monolith of sandstone, quite perpendicular, one hundred and fifty feet high from the base, twenty feet wide, and ten feet deep. In honour of one of his patrons, he named it Chambers’ Pillar. Less than three weeks afterwards, he found by his observations that he and two companions and twelve horses, was camped in the centre of the continent. On April 22nd 1860, he proudly unfurled the British flag on the highest point in the vicinity, which he named Central Mount Stuart. From this point he pressed on northward, continuing the plan of making short lateral trips east and west, so as to discover the most practicable route, till by the hostility of savage blacks, scarcity of provisions, and the weakness of his party, he was compelled to return.

The chief difficulty, however, had now been conquered. John McDouall Stuart's report being so encouraging, the parliament voted a sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, and with twelve men and forty-nine horses, he left Chambers’ Creek station in the far north on New Year’s Day, 1861. This time it was not the attacks of natives, but impenetrable scrub and the want of water that drove him back after reaching to within four degrees of the northern coast. Still trusted and still undismayed, he was again sent out within a month of his arrival at Adelaide. The Victorian expedition under Burke and Wills had already left Melbourne. It was a race between the colonies, and between Burke and Stuart, which should first cross the continent. The latter was so confident and undaunted that he promised the governor he would wash his feet in the Indian Ocean before his return. The Victorian party had the start in point of time, and the shortest distance to travel, its objective being the Gulf of Carpentaria; but the story of its brilliant success and terrible disaster has already been told. Stuart, taking advantage of his previously gained knowledge, and avoiding the line of country he had found impracticable on former journeys, reached without serious hindrance the fertile and well-watered regions within the influence of tropic rains in 1862. He pronounced an immense extent of country he traversed the finest he had ever seen. At length he heard the wash of the waves, but kept the knowledge to himself till, penetrating through scrub matted with vines, the party was startled by a shout of "the sea !" from F. W. Thring, the third officer, who had ridden a little in advance.

Thus the feat was accomplished. John McDouall Stuart had successfully crossed Australia from south to north.

On July 25th 1862 he triumphantly raised the Union Jack on the northern coast at Chambers Bay. A record was cut deeply into a large tree, which still stands to bear its witness, and to another the Union Jack was securely nailed. after which the party returned along the same route. On November 26th, 1862 ten exhausted, gaunt and ragged men, on their limping, emanciated horses arrived at a remote stock run near Mount Margaret, in northern South Australia. With them, in a horse-drawn litter, was the skeletal figure of their leader, stretchered for 1,600 miles, nearly blind, with a crippled hand, and 'breath which reeked with the corruption of death'. They returned to Adelaide on January 21st 1863, greeted to a heroes' welcome.

Liberal grants were made to the members of the successful party, who received a perfect ovation on their return to Adelaide, their passage along the streets of the city resembling a royal progress. Mr. Stuart received a grant of a thousand square miles of grazing country, and in all three thousand pounds in cash. He had struggled on while there was work to do, but the privations, borne with indomitable courage, told upon him.