This paper reports an experimental observation of spontaneous transition of the core radial electric field to a large positive value (Er ∼ 5 kV m−1), with a strong electric-field shear (∼700 kV m−2) in a low temperature (Te ∼ 10 eV) radio frequency generated argon plasma in the H-1NF heliac stellarator. The transition, which seems to be driven by a spontaneous excitation of m = 2 magnetic islands near the core, is associated with a localized increase in the plasma density and excitation of coherent low frequency (∼3 kHz) oscillations possibly due to unstable Er shear driven modes. Evidence suggests development of the core electron-root scenario, which previously has been observed only at high temperature electron cyclotron heated plasmas.