In this period he made many expeditions into the outback regions of South Australia, thinking that the water in lakes he saw at the time was fresh and permanent, rather than exceedingly erratic.

Goyder was also faced with the despair of his wife, Frances Mary Smith, who suffered the loss of twins at birth during George's long travels in the outback.

Goyder, in the midst of his work in the pastoral zone, was asked to report on the problem and his response was to find out how far south crop failure had been general.

The furthest points inland at which crops had not failed, corresponding approximately to the 300-millimetre (12-inch) annual isohyet – figures vary from 250 to 350 millimetres in different publications – were marked as the "Line of Rainfall".

The idea was contrary to beliefs widespread at the time and seen by many as ridiculous in a period of great optimism, but after major losses by grain growers near to, or outside of, the line – especially in the droughts of 1881–1882 and 1884–1886 – his judgement proved to have been sound.

Goyder's Line was first accepted significantly after a number of dry years, though improved cultivation practices have allowed some expansion in the 1980s and 1990s, despite a couple of very severe droughts.

Goyder was sent by the government of South Australia (of which the Northern Territory was then a part) to lay out the street plans for a capital to be named Palmerston.

With the incentive of a £3000 bonus, "Little Energy" as he was nicknamed[2] and his team of about 128 men[3] left Port Adelaide on the Moonta on 27 December 1868[4] and dropped anchor in Darwin Harbour on 5 February 1869.

[1] Goyder led an austere and disciplined life, and this was reflected in his strict treatment of subordinates – though he was always regarded as fair to those he advised in spite of many complaints by farmers and graziers.