In a reconnaissance survey for sedimentary phosphate, sludges and cores were examined from 100 widely-scattered bores in parts of the Murray Basin and the Gambier Embayment of the Otway Basin that are located in South Australia. Microscopic inspection of the bore samples, and their testing with ammonium nitro-molybdate indicator reagent, were followed in selected cases by partial chemical analysis. Out of more than 400 analyses made, the highest showed just 1.66% P205, only three exceeded 1%, and most were less than 0.5%. Sporadic phosphorite grains, and contents of P205 higher than 0.5%, tend to occur in the upper Knight Group, Buccleuch Group, or Ettrick Formation in the vicinity of Port MacDonnell, Beachport, and Kingston to Naracoorte, Keith, and Wellington. No phosphate deposits of economic significance were encountered.