John McDouall Stuart's expedition had reached the north coast of Australia and on 24 July 1862 the flag was raised on a tree and a note placed in a tin near the base of the tree. All the members of the expedition signed the note which stated that the South Australian Great Exploring Expedition under the command of John McDouall Stuart had reached there after crossing through the centre of the continent, having left Adelaide on 26 October 1861. He named the bay where the flag was raised after Miss Elizabeth Chambers who had sewed the flag. The expedition then prepared for the long return journey to Adelaide.

This was the triumphant climax to Stuart's sixth expedition, but they now faced the long return journey to Adelaide and there would be no outside help until they were well below the South Australian border at 26 degrees. Their provisions were low, and the horses were weak after nine months in the field on grass only. However these were bush bred horses from the Chambers brothers Cobdogla Station and the best were able to follow their outward track back from camp to camp. Stuart was by now very ill from the constant exploration of the last four years and was nursed constantly by Patrick Auld. Reluctantly Stuart was forced to abandon some of the horses that were unfit to continue, but always contrived to do so where there was ample food and water for them. From October, Stuart was carried on a stretcher slung between two horses. Stuart sent a telegram from Kooringa Station (Burra) advising of his return and of reaching the north coast of the continent. He finally arrived back in Adelaide 17 December 1862.