A strong gust propelled him into the air, but because of their box design the kites remained steady in the buffeting winds. The area is well known for its favourable gliding winds and on the morning of 12 November 1894 Hargrave launched a linked series of four box kites off the town beach and then climbed into a seat attached to the lowest kite. ![]() In 1893 the family moved to Stanwell Park between Sydney and Wollongong where they owned property and coal mines. In 1878 Hargrave married Margaret Johnston with whom he had six children. This was to be his last expedition to Australia’s north. In 1877 Hargrave, now a respected explorer and cartographer, was back in the Torres Strait investigating the viability of pearl farms on behalf of a British firm. Hargrave and d’Albertis had a grave falling out over the Italian’s looting of sacred objects from local villages and Hargrave resigned his position. ![]() Hargrave returned to Sydney in January 1876 but by April had signed on with another expedition led by the Italian explorer Luigi d’Albertis. He left this expedition after six months to join another voyage, this time with the Ellengowan, again as engineer. This disaster failed to discourage Hargrave and three years later he joined the politician, amateur scientist and patron of the arts Sir William Macleay’s research voyage to New Guinea as engineer on board the Chevert. The ship sank after striking Bramble Reef off the coast of North Queensland with the loss of 35 of the 75 passengers and crew on board. He joined the brig Maria in 1872 headed for New Guinea in search of gold under the leadership of Reverend Dr John Dunmore Lang. However, his career as an explorer was not without tragedy. ![]() The journey on the Ellesmere left a positive impression on Hargrave and between 18 he worked as engineer on six different expeditions.
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