Assistant Surveyor-General George W Goyder explored the country north of Mount Serle in May 1857. In latitude 29 degrees he found flowing creeks, a large lake of fresh water and luxuriant grasses. From the adjacent hills he saw well grassed valleys and lagoons of fresh water. He also reported on the effects of mirage the expedition experienced, with apparent large trees actually being bushes. Goyder further recommended that a boat be placed on the lake for further exploration, and that a chain of wells could be sunk commencing at Port Augusta.

George Goyder was Assistant Surveyor General from January 1857 until he became Surveyor General in 1861, a position he held until his retirement in June 1894. He is best known for his Line of Rainfall, generally known as Goyder's Line, which distinguishes land suited for agricultural puposes from those more marginal lands suited for pastoralism. Goyder in his exploration of 1857 had been seriously misled by the effects of some rainfall in the inland and had confused temporary flood and fleeting ephemeral grasses, with permanent water, as Surveyor General Arthur Freeling pointed out to him after his own later investigation of the region. While Goyder had recognised some appearances of water for mirage, he had been fooled on other occasions. It was a lesson he learned well.