Benjamin Herschel Babbage - South Australia's forgotten explorer.

The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia warmly welcomes Prof Rod Tucker to present our annual Brock Lecture.

Benjamin Herschel Babbage’s explorations in the late 1850s provided a crucial step towards the opening of northern South Australia to European settlement. Babbage recognised that there was a gap in the mythical horseshoe shaped Lake Torrens that Edward John Eyre imagined sixteen years earlier.

Babbage opened the way for John McDouall Stuart’s crossing of the continent however at the time his contributions were subject to much controversy. The South Australian Government summarily dismissed him as expedition leader.

This talk will give an overview of Babbage’s explorations in the Flinders Ranges and the Lake Torrens - Lake Eyre region and recount the political machinations in Adelaide that led to his removal from the expedition. The talk will be illustrated with original and modern maps and with many sketches by Babbage and his botanist, David Herrgott.

The RGSSA Lecture Program is supported by the State Library of South Australia

Please note that this lecture will be held in the Hetzel Theatre, Institute Building, corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue (adjacent to SLSA).

This event is free for members of the RGSSA (although we do appreciate a gold coin donation). Non-members are welcome to attend and tickets are available for $10 per person. Book online through this site. The RGSSA welcomes new members who wish to make a contribution to the success of the society.