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On Stuart's Creek
Title : On Stuart's Creek On Stuart's Creek
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Creator : Babbage, Benjamin Herschel, 1815-1878
Source : PRG 404/19/3/49
Date of creation : 1858
Format : Artwork
Catalogue record
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Description :

John McDouall Stuart had discovered this creek earlier in May 1858, and had named it Chambers Creek, after his sponsors the Chambers Brothers. It was to be the advance depot for all of his remaining five expeditions into Central Australia and beyond. When Benjamin Babbage was there some weeks later, he named the creek for Stuart, a name it has retained. Babbage traced the creek down to where it drained into Lake Gregory (that is Lake Eyre South). He also considered that the waterholes in the creek were not permanent as he could not detect any springs in the creek bed.

Stuart was looking for pastoral country for the Chambers Brothers of Oratunga Station. Babbage was the leader of a large expedition equipped by the South Australian government sent out to explore the northern portions of the colony and locate if possible a passage through the apparent large horseshoe shaped salt lake that blocked passage to the north. He was on the verge of discovering this when he was recalled by the government for being too slow. He was replaced by Peter Egerton Warburton.
Subjects
Related names :

Babbage, Benjamin Herschel, 1815-1878

Stuart, John McDouall, 1815-1866

Coverage year : 1858
Region : Flinders Ranges and Far North - Outback
Further reading :
Babbage, B. H. 'Northern exploration', South Australian Parliamentary Papers, no. 25, 1858
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
Gill, Dawn, Iron tracks and dusty trails: the life of Benjamin Herschel Babbage Henley Beach, S. Aust.: Seaview Press, c2002
Webster, M. S. John McDouall Stuart with maps by Mary Quick [Carlton]: Melbourne University Press, 1958
Internet links :
Exhibitions and events :

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


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