Explorers History

Early explorers of the region surrounding Woomera experienced varying levels of success due to the harshness of the land. From 1842 onwards a large number of explorers are recorded as having travelled around the region. By 1850 the region was widely regarded as being desolate and infertile. A description of their expeditions follows:

1842: CC Dutton lost his life attempting to herd cattle from Port Lincoln to Adelaide. His remains were not found for twenty years.

1844: John Darke was killed by natives, 241 km from Port Lincoln, exploring the region of Lake Gairdner.

1846: JA Harrock reached Lake Dutton. He was the first man to use a camel on an exploration. He also lost his life.

1851: John Oakden and HS Hulkes briefly explored the region, returning in 1859 to lease the land now known as Oakden Hills.

1855: Dr WJ Browne crossed a dry Lake Torrens, only to discover that there was no crossing during the wet season.

1857: Charles Swinden and Murdock Campbell, experienced pastoralists, commenced an expedition near the head of Spencers Gulf, penetrating as far north as Elizabeth Creek. He leased land on the creek and for many years the region was known as Swinden's country. Later that year Campbell explored 50 miles further north.

1858: Three squatters, Scott, Brooks and Coulthard explored the region for grazing land. Scott and Brooks returned exhausted. Coulthard was later found dead, before dying he scratchd his name and the final date of his life on his canteen.
BH Babbage led a government survey team north-west to map the new region, but due to his slow progress he was replaced by PE Warbarton.
John McDouall Stuart explored the region west of Lake Eyre and the southern region of Streaky Bay.

1870: John Forrest passed through this area on his Perth to Adelaide expedition on a path that is now followed by the Transcontinental Railway.

1875-76: Ernest Giles explored the region around Woomera twice.

1876: Joseph Brooks surveyed the region which was then leased by settlers.