Camp 13 was the site of the 2nd last national radio broadcast Jun 21, 1939. They had rehearsed previously with Andy a traditional song routine which he grew into with great gusto! Unfortunately with the actual broadcast Andy became increasingly self-conscious and the performance lacked the fire of previous renditions, but Madigan still felt it went over very
well. Andy was probably the first full blood blackfella to speak to the nation.
Madigan’s
Camp sites are references to explorer and geologist Cecil Thomas Madigan who, leading a party of nine men made an epic crossing of the North
Simpson Desert, by camels, in 1939. Madigan took 35 days to make his west/east crossing.
Madigan's
Camp sites were all marked with small plaques on yellow painted star pickets in 1994 by Owen Correa Outback Expeditions. These day's 4WD
explorers have begun to retrace Madigan's route of this 1939 expedition - thereby following Madigan's Line. It's is done from west to east due to the steep eastern sides of the dunes until you get to about
Camp 15, which is on the
Hay River Track.
Note that the Madigan Camps are not necessarily indicative of good
camp sites for travellers, but are historical points from C.T. Madigan 1939 Expedition.