He penetrated through the plains that were supposed to occupy the central portion of the horseshoe formation at that time associated in the public opinion with Lake Torrens.

More fortunate than his predecessors, he found permanent water in a gum-tree creek, and saw some fair-sized sheets of water, one of which he named Blanche Water, or Lake Blanche.

Some further excursions led to the discovery of more fresh water and well-grassed pastoral country.

The aboriginals, too, directed him to what they said was a crossing-place in that portion of Lake Torrens that had been sighted, in 1845, by Poole and Browne of Captain Sturt's party, when Poole thought he saw an inland sea.
Their directions, however, proved unreliable, or Babbage failed to find the place, for he lost his horse in the attempt to cross the lake.
In 1857, another excursion to the westward of Lake Torrens was made by a Mr.Campbell, who discovered a creek of fresh water, which he called the Elizabeth.

He also visited Lake Torrens, of which he reported in similar terms to those of previous explorers -- that it was surrounded with barren country.
In April of the same year, a survey conducted by Deputy Surveyor-General Goyder, over the same country as that lately explored by Babbage, led to some absurd mistakes.