Eyre's 1839 expeditions
Encyclopedia
Edward John Eyre
's two expeditions of 1839 to the interior of South Australia
were his first expeditions as an explorer, if one discounts the two earlier trips he made down the Murray River
to Adelaide
, herding cattle and then sheep.
, he left Adelaide with five other men on May 1, 1839, taking two drays and travelling north for the coastal plain west of the Flinders Ranges
. He named the Broughton River
after William Broughton
, the Anglican Bishop of Australia, and proceeded northward past the head of the gulf to establish camp halfway between the Dutchman's Stern and Mount Arden at a small creek with permanent springs in it: he named this Depot Creek and was to return to it several times in future years.
From this camp he espied a low range of hills to the west, and sent his companion John Baxter
to investigate - this range he later named the Baxter Range; it lies north of the town of Iron Knob
. Eyre himself set off north along the margin of the Flinders. Finding little water (the pools of water in Willochra Creek were salty), he made for a hill some 30 km north-west of the later town of Hawker
. From the summit he had his first view of Lake Torrens
; he later wrote that it "seemed to be water", but he realised it was merely the "dry and glazed bed of where water had lodged" - a salt lake. To the north-east he noted that the ranges continued; "tier behind tier of very rocky appearance as far as the eye could reach". This was almost certainly the first time that a European had glimpsed the peaks of Wilpena Pound
.
After returning to camp and a brief foray 50 km down the western side of Spencer Gulf with Baxter, Eyre decided to return southwards. He was dissatisfied with the saltbush country (as he described it, "sandy desert interspersed with scrub"), not realising the grazing potential of the saltbush.
On his return trip he turned east after leaving the Flinders behind and instead travelled back to Adelaide down the River Murray, reaching home on June 29th. The Governor soon named his northernmost point Mount Eyre.
on his 24th birthday, August 5th. His small party traveled along the coast to the vicinity of Streaky Bay
before Eyre struck out alone with an indigenous companion. They reached their farthest point some 50 km west of the modern site of Ceduna
, forced back by lack of water.
Eyre then led his party across country back to the head of Spencer Gulf and their old campsite at Depot Creek, discovering and naming the Gawler Ranges
(for the Governor) on the way. Determined to explore farther, he traveled north alone, this time going about 80 km farther than Mount Eyre, reaching a peak a little south-west of modern-day Leigh Creek
. From here he saw that Lake Torrens was now filled with water, but it still blocked his path. He was compelled to return, being without any support. Back at camp he conferred with Baxter, whom he had sent east. Baxter is assumed to have crossed the Willochra Plain
, and after traveling some 100 km, he had seen what he called nothing but a "low flat sea of scrub".
Eyre returned to Adelaide directly, visiting and giving glowing reports of what was to become the Clare Valley
.
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
's two expeditions of 1839 to the interior of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
were his first expeditions as an explorer, if one discounts the two earlier trips he made down the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, herding cattle and then sheep.
North
Having made a tidy profit of several thousand pounds from his second overlanding trip, the young Eyre (then only twenty-three years old) turned his attention to the interior, and the speculation surrounding the possibility of an inland sea. Planning a three-month expedition to the head of the Spencer GulfSpencer Gulf
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
, he left Adelaide with five other men on May 1, 1839, taking two drays and travelling north for the coastal plain west of the Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately north west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna...
. He named the Broughton River
Broughton River
The Broughton River is a river in South Australia which flows from its confluence with Crystal Brook to the Spencer Gulf. Its mouth is located approximately north of Port Broughton and south west of Port Pirie....
after William Broughton
William Grant Broughton
William Grant Broughton was the first Bishop of Australia of the Church of England....
, the Anglican Bishop of Australia, and proceeded northward past the head of the gulf to establish camp halfway between the Dutchman's Stern and Mount Arden at a small creek with permanent springs in it: he named this Depot Creek and was to return to it several times in future years.
From this camp he espied a low range of hills to the west, and sent his companion John Baxter
John Baxter (explorer)
John Baxter was a friend and companion of Edward John Eyre on his crossing of the Nullarbor Plain in 1840-1841. When the party was low on supplies and in desperate need of water, near the coast south of present-day Caiguna in Nuytsland National Park, Baxter was murdered by Yarry and Joey, two of...
to investigate - this range he later named the Baxter Range; it lies north of the town of Iron Knob
Iron Knob, South Australia
Iron Knob is a town in South Australia on the Eyre Highway across Eyre Peninsula. At the 2006 census, Iron Knob and the surrounding area had a population of 199....
. Eyre himself set off north along the margin of the Flinders. Finding little water (the pools of water in Willochra Creek were salty), he made for a hill some 30 km north-west of the later town of Hawker
Hawker, South Australia
Hawker is a town in the Flinders Ranges area of South Australia, 365 km north of Adelaide. It is in the Flinders Ranges Council, the state Electoral district of Stuart and the federal Division of Grey. At the 2006 census, Hawker had a population of 229....
. From the summit he had his first view of Lake Torrens
Lake Torrens
Lake Torrens is a salt lake in central South Australia. It is located in the Lake Torrens National Park....
; he later wrote that it "seemed to be water", but he realised it was merely the "dry and glazed bed of where water had lodged" - a salt lake. To the north-east he noted that the ranges continued; "tier behind tier of very rocky appearance as far as the eye could reach". This was almost certainly the first time that a European had glimpsed the peaks of Wilpena Pound
Wilpena Pound
Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheatre of mountains located north of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia in the heart of the Flinders Ranges National Park. The Pound is the most northern point with access via a sealed road in this part of the Flinders Ranges...
.
After returning to camp and a brief foray 50 km down the western side of Spencer Gulf with Baxter, Eyre decided to return southwards. He was dissatisfied with the saltbush country (as he described it, "sandy desert interspersed with scrub"), not realising the grazing potential of the saltbush.
On his return trip he turned east after leaving the Flinders behind and instead travelled back to Adelaide down the River Murray, reaching home on June 29th. The Governor soon named his northernmost point Mount Eyre.
West and north again
Restless, Eyre dallied little before setting sail for Port LincolnPort Lincoln, South Australia
- Transport :Port Lincoln is the port for the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsular Railway.There is also a subsidiary port at Proper Bay which may be restored to use for iron ore traffic. The export of iron ore through Port Lincoln has been approved by the South Australian Government. Port...
on his 24th birthday, August 5th. His small party traveled along the coast to the vicinity of Streaky Bay
Streaky Bay, South Australia
Streaky Bay is a coastal town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia just off the Flinders Highway 303 km north west of Port Lincoln and 727 km by road from Adelaide...
before Eyre struck out alone with an indigenous companion. They reached their farthest point some 50 km west of the modern site of Ceduna
Ceduna, South Australia
Ceduna is a small town in the West Coast region of South Australia. It is situated in the northwest corner of Eyre Peninsula, facing the islands of the Nuyts Archipelago. It lies west of the junction of the Flinders and Eyre Highways around 786 km northwest of the capital Adelaide. The port...
, forced back by lack of water.
Eyre then led his party across country back to the head of Spencer Gulf and their old campsite at Depot Creek, discovering and naming the Gawler Ranges
Gawler Ranges
The Gawler Ranges are a range of stoney hills in South Australia to the north of Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Highway skirts the south of the ranges. The Gawler Ranges National Park and Gawler Ranges Conservation Reserve are in the ranges north of Wudinna...
(for the Governor) on the way. Determined to explore farther, he traveled north alone, this time going about 80 km farther than Mount Eyre, reaching a peak a little south-west of modern-day Leigh Creek
Leigh Creek, South Australia
Leigh Creek is a coal-mining town in the north of South Australia. At the 2006 census, Leigh Creek had a population of 549....
. From here he saw that Lake Torrens was now filled with water, but it still blocked his path. He was compelled to return, being without any support. Back at camp he conferred with Baxter, whom he had sent east. Baxter is assumed to have crossed the Willochra Plain
Willochra Plain
The Willochra Plain is a wide plain situated East of Port Augusta, South Australia.The area falls in view from Mount Brown Lookout and from walking trails in The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park. Details for these walks are available at the SA Dept website....
, and after traveling some 100 km, he had seen what he called nothing but a "low flat sea of scrub".
Eyre returned to Adelaide directly, visiting and giving glowing reports of what was to become the Clare Valley
Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Main North Road as the main thoroughfare....
.