Edward Eyre left Adelaide in June 1840 to explore South Australia's northern regions. He travelled to his depot at Mount Arden. While waiting for the colonial cutter Water Witch to arrive with supplies he reconnoitred ahead. He attempted to cross Lake Torrens, but although dry on top, it was boggy below the surface, and he abandoned any further attempt.  Moving his depot further north from Mount Arden, he continued to explore to the north.

Edward Eyre continued north towards the hill he had named Mount Hopeless. He now discovered brine springs, fresh water having all but disappeared; he noted that he was in the same latitude that Charles Sturt had been when he discovered brine springs in the River Darling over ten years previously. There was no vegetation and the view all around was depressing. He climbed Mount Hopeless and found that the view ahead was entirely cheerless, the Flinders Ranges had finally petered out and the land extended to the horizon with only a few broken ridges.

Eyre and his party moved back down to the Mount Arden depot and considered their options for further exploration. 

Eyre, Edward John, 1815-1901

Sturt, Charles 1795-1869

University of Adelaide Online Books: Journals of expeditions of discovery into Central Australia, and overland from Adelaide to King George's Sound, in the years 1840-1 sent by the colonists of South Australia, with the sanction and support of the government by Edward John Eyre.

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition: Eyre, Edward John (1815-1901)

Edward John Eyre Gutenberg

Edward John Eyre Wikipedia

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