Babbage's sketchbook

Benjamin Babbage was the leader of a South Australian government expedition which was exploring the northern reaches of the colony and searching for a passage through the apparent barrier of salt lakes that blocked progress to the north. He was equipped for 18 months but was recalled by the government for being too slow. Babbage was replaced by Peter Egerton Warburton just as he found a way through the lakes to the north.

His sketchbook records the areas he explored: mound springs, creeks and the adjacent country. He also drew a chart of the night sky. On the back of some of the pages he recorded some other details, such as his discovery of the body of William Coulthard at Pernatty Creek. Babbage had been in the vicinity some months previous to his grisly find.

Benjamin Babbage was the leader of a South Australian government expedition which was exploring the northern reaches of the colony and searching for a passage through the apparent barrier of salt lakes that blocked progress to the north. He was equipped for 18 months but was recalled by the government for being too slow. Babbage was replaced by Peter Egerton Warburton just as he found a way through the lakes to the north.

His sketchbook records the areas he explored: mound springs, creeks and the adjacent country. He also drew a chart of the night sky. On the back of some of the pages he recorded some other details, such as his discovery of the body of William Coulthard at Pernatty Creek. Babbage had been in the vicinity some months previous to his grisly find.

View more images from Babbage's sketchbooks.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

Buy a high resolution copy.