View a "zoomable" version.

This map covers Chambers Creek north to the Hugh River and Waterhouse Range at 24 degrees, and is covering territory already explored by Stuart on his fourth expedition in 1860. Along the narrow route of the explorer's path it shows topography with comments on the apparent fertility of the country. The route of the 1860 expedition is distinguished from that taken in the fifth expedition of 1860-61. In the bottom right hand corner can be seen the string of springs which were discovered between 1858 and 1861 and which enabled exploration and later pastoralism in the region. Emerald Spring was the first of these discovered by BH Babbage in October 1858. The springs are the naturally occurring seepages from the Great Artesian Basin which underlies much of central Australia.

Many of the rivers discovered and named by Stuart are 'gum creeks' as he called them--ephemeral rivers and creeks that only flow for some time after sufficient rain. They drain into Lake Eyre after good rains. Chambers Pillar, north of the Finke River is a striking feature of this landscape, and was named by Stuart after his sponsor James Chambers.

Stuart, John McDouall, 1815-1866

Kekwick, William Darton, 1822-1872

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