Strzelecki’s Creek.

Rare engraving of Strzelecki Creek from Charles Sturt’s account of his expedition. Charles Sturt, 1844-46, sought to solve the mystery of the character of inland Australia and on his expedition penetrated further into the interior than any previous explorer. His party of sixteen avoided the ‘horseshoe lake’ by travelling first to Menindee on the River Darling in New South Wales. Then striking northwest, they discovered the Barrier Ranges and re-entered South Australia on a side trip which brought them in sight of Mount Hopeless in the Northern Flinders Ranges. Returning to New South Wales and discovering the Grey Range, Sturt again struck northwest across the stony desert that bears his name, and crossed the channels of Strzelecki Creek, Cooper Creek, Diamantina River and Eyre Creek before turning back from what is now known as the Simpson Desert.

From, Charles Sturt, Narrative of an expedition into Central Australia, performed under the authority of Her Majesty’s government, during the years 1844, 5, and 6 : together with a notice of the province of South Australia in 1847