On 12 September 1860, the expedition camp was located on the New South Wales side of the Murray River. Speewa creek is an anabranch of the Murray River and at times of greater flow it creates an island, known as Speewa Island. Now it is usually dry.

Becker sketched a group of aborigines camped by the waters edge, some with spears and wearing possum skin cloaks. They were not willing to approach the explorers.