5 August 1839 Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre’s second trip into South Australia’s inland began on 5 August 1839 when he set sail for Port Linco9ln having decided to use that port as his starting point. From there, with four white men and two Aborigines, he followed the coast around as far as Streaky Bay where he made a depot. He and one Aborigine then rode on for another 100 miles but finding little water and inhospitable country they were forced back. The party then struck east across the peninsular which was later given Eyre’s name and after naming the Gawler Ranges they made their old camping site in the Flinders Ranges where there was a dependable spring. From there Eyre set out north again and travelled further than on his first trip and again sighted the large lake now named Lake Torrens and although he thought it contained water he was also sure it would be salt.
In the meantime his offsider, Baxter, ventured east through the southern Flinders until he viewed the scrubland on the eastern side. They all returned through what is now known as the Clare Valley and reached Adelaide in October. As with his first expedition Eyre made this one at his own expense.
Hans Mincham, The Story of the Flinders Ranges, Rigby, 1964, pp25-6.