The Early Days
As the pastoralists moved their stock overland from the Avon valley region to Champion Bay, further exploration started in the Murchison / Gascoyne region. The surveyor Robert Austin who first traveled throughout the Mt Magnet and Murchison region 1854. In 1858 F.T. Gregory set off to explore the Murchison, Lyons and Gascoyne River.
April 1864
Mr Thomas Burges left Champion Harbour on the 19th of April 1864 in the Flying Foam for Shark Bay, Nicol Bay and the Gascoigne River.Febuary 1866
It was at first proposed by Mr. Drummond to send the sheep overland from Champion Bay, but it has since been thought advisable to await the return of Mr. Hooley before doing so. As most of the route has been previously traversed, no impracticable obstacles to the accomplishment of this spirited enterprise are apprehended.Mr. Mount, a Victorian gentleman who has taken up a large quantity of land in this part of the colony, proceeded to Melbourne by the ship on Friday, with the intention of bringing sheep thence to stock it.
April 1866
Edward T Hooley leaves Geraldine Mine for the Ashburton with 1 945 sheep, 2 pack-horses, 1 three horse team and three men. The sheep were spilt between Mr L. C. Burges (jun), 920 head and Hooley 1025 head. Edward arrives at the Fortesque on the 25th August. He rides to Port Walcot and along with Lockier Burges (jun) they return and treat the flock for scab. Lockier burns sea shells to make lime and mixes it with the bark of the Flooded Gum tree. Two baths of this remedied the sheep. Edward returned to Champion Bay with the intention of bringing another mob overland the following year.May 1866
Mr. Lockier Clere Burges (jun) has become the purchaser of Mr Wellard's station and stock at Nicol Bay for the sum of £2,400.28 January 1868 
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Mr Hooley returned to the north west and settled at what is called now Minderoo. Morton Craig was left to manage the property, but it was abandoned after two yearrs.
Whilest driving his sheep to this station he changed his course at the junction of the Landor and Gascoyne Rivers. He proceeded due west and followed the Gascoyne River till he reached Morrissey Creek. Proceeded due NNE for 5 miles and then turned due NNW and followed the feeder creeks into the Durlacher Creek which he named on his previous trek. The supply of water was better and it was about 18 miles shorter than the route around Mt Augustas.
Hooley's stock route and the gazetted Mullewa - Degrey route went different directions at the junction of Elizabeth Springs. They joined back together at the Lyons and Alma Rivers.
September 1868
Mr. Roberts, who is in charge of W. Padbury, Esq.'s flocks in Nickol Bay, arrived at Champion Bay this morning, having driven about five thousand sheep from Nickol Bay to the Geraldine Mine in about sixty-four days with a loss of 10 sheep only.He reports most favorably of the line of road, and has met with an abundance of both feed and water all along the line. the report he brings of Nickol Bay is not all that could be desired, but the country now has had an abundance of rain, and hence any quantity of feed, winch will put them all in better heart.
April 1871
Mr. John S.Davis put forward the idea of traveling further east of Yuin Station. Mr Davis, Mr. C. Shenton, Mr. Brown, (Government Geologist) and a native followed the Greenough River.1874
Mr Perks (Manager of Yuin) and Edward Wittenoom explore the country around the Roderick River about 18 miles from Yuin Station. Edward had leased the Yuin off Mr Burges this same year.April 1876
Edward Robinson is stationed at Mcleods Pyramid (Hooleys Wash Well 6) from the 1st January to the 14th of March awaiting more sheep to be supplied by Padbury and Loton merchants. Two trips back to Champion Bay, one at 140 miles and the other at 230 miles are to no avail. Reluctantly they leave for Hooley's number 7 well at the junction of the Landor and Gascoyne Rivers. They hope to be in Roebourne by the end of June.October 1878
Mr Thomas Robert O'Grady (Milly Milly Station) and George Woodley discovered the Wooramel River as they were searching for a route to the coast near Shark Bay from Milly Milly. It was during this sojurn that Mr O'Grady and Mr Woodley created Byro Station.December 1885
Mr. Russell proposed, seconded by Mr. C. Gale, that a stock road be opened up between Carnarvon and Perth, and that a water borer be sent up for that purpose at once. Carried unanimously.Mr. R. E. Bush proposed, seconded by Mr. Russell, that the Government be asked to take measures to declare a stock road in the Gascoyne district from Carnarvon eastward. Carried unanimously.
May 1886
Bengalee writes than upon reaching the junction of the Lyons and Gascoyne Rivers there are two ways to reach Champion Bay or Perth.The first is to travel east and follow the Gascoyne till you reach the Landor River (224km) and then travel south onto the Murchison River.
The other entailed travelling west to Carnarvon and taking the less travelled route along the coast following the telegraph line and reaching the Geraldine Mine on the Murchison.
The eastern route is a safe route and the coastal route is impractical due to the lack of water.
January 1890
William Templeton arrived via the Corana 12.12.1866 and worked as a shepherd for Sharpe & Mawhinney of Wooleen Station. He was also a early sheperd at Yuin Station for the Wittenooms. In January under instructions to wait with a mob of 1100 sheep with a months supply of supplies at Tilly Pool. The pool dried out quickler than thought and William and the sheep perished from thirst. He was to move the sheep to Irrida Pool 9 miles NE of Wooleen Homestead. It is believed he perished on or about the 29th of January 1890, 40 miles NW of Wooleen Homestead. His body was found by a servant named McGuire along with a note book explaining what happened. The sheep were ewe's who were lambing and there were some valuable rams from Victoria.March 1890
William Cream leaves Geraldton for Degrey Station on a preliminary trip to find the best route. George Gooch put forward the idea of leaving from Daurie Creek and heading south (late 1880's). At the same time the maps were more detailed and probably more available.The first clue that a new route was found from the Gascoyne Junction to Elizabeth Springs lays in the reference in this article that says William left the head of Daurie Creek and upon reaching that spot made his way to Elizabeth Springs and from there to Pindar Well (Reserve 1019) 16 miles east of Mullewa . Pandara Pool (Stone crossing) on the Wooramel River is also a watering place. Bilung Pool was gazetted as a 510 acre reserve (960) on Jan 1886.
One of the reasons the cattle were bought to Pindar Well was because Mullewa was a major watering place for the teamsters and cameleers, so the arrival of the cattle could have proved confrontational.