1857 Swinden and Hack

In 1857 a small party of squatters Thompson, Murdoch Campbell, Charles Swinden and Stocks set out to explore west of Lake Torrens Pernatty Creek and Lagoon were discovered together with good saltbush and grassed country. Meanwhile Stephen Hack was exploring the north-west, starting from Streaky Bay. By late June 1857 his party was approaching the Gawler Ranges, and discovered well watered grassy country. Hack rounded the southern end of Lake Gairdner and discovered the apparently permanent water at Yardea, Pondanna, Kodondo, Cockatoo Springs, Polturkana and Paney-the country had the appearance of useful agricultural land. Hack's explorations had discovered 4,000 square miles of useful pastoral country.

For more information about northern exploration see Taking it to the edge: Land: To the north.