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JW Lewis had been sent north to explore and determine the extent of Lake Eyre. His map of the region north and east of Lake Eyre revealed the complexity of the tributary rivers, the Warburton and Cooper Creek. After establishing his base camp 18 miles to the east of Mount Margaret, Umbun Creek was traced down to the lake. The same was done with the Neales River while Lewis himself surveyed the lake's shore. The Warburton River was discovered to be a separate river from Cooper Creek, and was explored upstream. Other creeks surveyed included the Gerty, Eleanor and Everard Creeks. The western shore of the lake was not shown as this had been charted on earlier expeditions

Lake Eyre is Australia's largest lake, unfortunately a dry salt lake, which floods only occasionally, and completely fills even less frequently. The lake itself is some 9,300 square kilometres and drains an even larger area of over a million square kilometres. Fed by intermittent streams from central Australia, and western Queensland, the lake is usually dry but when when it begins to fill attracts bird life and tourists. The lake overlies Australia's enormous natural water reservoir, the Great Artesian Basin.

Lewis, J. W. (James Walton) 1841-1881

Threadgill, Bessie South Australian land exploration, 1856 to 1880 Adelaide: Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia, 1922

Kotwicki, V. Floods of Lake Eyre Adelaide: Engineering and Water Supply Dept., 1986

The Great filling of Lake Eyre in 1974 edited by C. Warren Bonython and A. Stewart Fraser Adelaide: Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch, 1989

Serventy, Vincent, The desert sea: the miracle of Lake Eyre in flood South Melbourne [Vic.]: Macmillan, 1985

A Natural history of the Lake Eyre region: a visitor's guide Port Augusta, S. Aust.: National Parks and Wildlife Service's Northern Consultative Committee, 1991

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing. Taking it to the edge August 2004-