On the date mentioned in 1830, Roe was in the field exploring in the vicinity of Cape Naturaliste.  Afterwards he was active in the country between the head-waters of the Kalgan and Hay Rivers.  In 1836 he first tried serious conclusions with the inland country of Western Australia, when he headed an expedition to explore the tableland that lies to the north and east of Perth.  The country was dreary and depressing, and, judging from its configuration and natural properties, he was unable to recommend it as a site for settlement or to depict it as the entrance to more pleasant lands beyond.  He reached Lake Brown, near the western boundary of the present Yilgarn goldfield; but the only noteworthy features that he perceived were the salt lakes that are now so well-known throughout Western Australia.  In 1839, Roe distinguished himself by rescuing Grey’s dismembered party.  On the 14th of September, 1848, he started to make an attempt at further discovery to the eastward.  He had with him six men, twelve horses, and three months’ provisions.  Upon leaving the outer settlements, they encountered the same depressing country as before.  Having crossed it, they were turned from their course by scrub of exceeding density, which in turn was succeeded by sandy desert plains.  Foiled for the time being they made for the south coast, where they recruited their strength at one of the outlying settlements.

On the 18th they started again, and followed up the course of the Pallinup River.  They ascended a branch coming from the north-east, and for a time revelled in the spectacle of well-grassed and promising valleys; but they soon again came amongst the scrub and sand plains of the inland desert.  Sighting a granite range to the eastward, they made towards it, but the outlook from its summit brought nothing but exceeding disappointment.  Fortunately the weather was showery, and the lack of water did not induce such keen anxiety as the total absence of grass.  Still pushing to the eastward, they found their difficulties increase at every step.  To the perils of travel through dense thickets and over barren, scorching plains, there was now added the risk of death from thirst.  It was not until after days of extreme privation that they reached some elevated peaks, where they obtained a little grass and water.

Their course lay now to the south-east, towards the range sighted by Eyre, and named the Russell Range, and there commenced a desperate struggle with the intervening desert.

So weak were the horses and so compact the belts of scrub, that in three days they had traversed only fifty miles.  After being four days and three nights without water for the horses, they reached a rugged hill which they named Mount Riley, where they were relieved by a scant supply.  Thence it was but fifty miles to the Russell Range, but the journey involved a repetition of the worst sufferings they had endured.  The scrub disputed their passage the whole route, being often so dense as to defy the use of the axe, and many long detours had to be made before they reached their goal.