In February 1867, following the failure of Finniss's settlement at Escape Cliffs, the South Australian government sent Cadell to the Northern Territory "to fix upon a proper site for the survey of ". His "modus operandi" was much criticised at the time, for his employment of men from New South Wales rather than experienced South Australians, for choosing the ex-paddle-wheeler "Eagle" for transport, and for taking few, if any, horses, without which any inland exploration was futile. His selection of a site on the Liverpool River was also criticised, and eventually rejected.