And the accounts brought back by the different exploring parties were conflicting in the extreme.

In 1851, two squatters, named Oakden and Hulkes, out run-hunting, pushed westward of Lake Torrens, and found suitable grazing country.

They also discovered a lake of fresh water, and heard from the natives of other lakes to the north-west some fabulous legends of strange animals.

Their horses giving in, Oakden and Hulkes returned, but although they applied for a squatting licence for the country they had been over, it was not then settled or stocked.

In 1856, Surveyor Babbage made some explorations in the field partly traversed by Eyre and Frome.