Climbing Legends #4 Breaden and Oliver 2nd to climb, first traverse

Climbing legends
Series of posts celebrating climbers of Ayers Rock.
#4 Allan David Breaden and W Oliver 2nd to climb

Allan Breaden at Hernbury Station, approx. 1930. Photo Credit.

Allan Breaden and W Oliver climbed the rock in 1897 as part of a prospecting party. Here's Breaden's Journal entry for March 4 1897

Breaden's journal available Mitchell Library.

Breaden is reported as likely the first, along with Oliver (Coulthard??) to undertake an west to east traverse of the rock.

"Anent Ayers Rock, again in the recent news. Mr. McKenzie told me that he knew two bushmen, Bob Coulthard* and Alan Breaden, who scaled up the western side and left their names there in a baking powder tin, and then carefully tobogganing down the east side."

*This is the only mention of Bob Coulthard climbing. Perhaps McKenzie means Oliver?

Further details about Breaden in this bio from The Mail 1936.
"STOLEN by the blacks when he was two years old at Booboorowie Station, South Australia, working on a station at 11, exploring the unknown Territory, drover, miner, and prospector. Allan David Breaden, now in his eighty-second year, has led a life full of adventure."
Allan Died in 1943 aged 85

Breaden and Oliver: legends

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