Elizabeth Creek was named after his aunt by Charles Swinden in August 1857.

In May 1858, Benjamin Babbage visited the area. Babbage was the leader of a South Australian government expedition which was exploring the far north of the colony, searching for a passage through the apparent barrier of salt lakes that blocked progress to the north. .

At that time of his visit, Babbage found it to be only one of two reliable water supplies in the district, but it was much reduced from Swinden's time when it was described as 'more like a lake than a waterhole.' In the account of his expedition, Babbage wrote that there were sand-hills on the creek's eastern bank and on the western, an open plain which was 'scrubby near the creek, although gradually becoming stony, and rising for about four miles towards the foot of a detached range.'

The expedition had been equipped for 18 months but was recalled by the government for being too slow. Babbage was replaced by Peter Egerton Warburton just as he found a way north through the salt lakes.

Babbage, Benjamin Herschel 1815-1878

Swinden, Charles

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