British colonisation of South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Province of South Australia
British Colony
1836–1901
Flag (1876–1904) Coat of Arms
Capital	Adelaide
Government
• Type	Limited Self-Governing Province (1836–1842), Crown colony (1842–1856), Fully Self-Governing Province (1857-1901)
Monarch
• 1834–1837	William IV first
• 1837–1901	Victoria last
Governor
• 1836–1838	John Hindmarsh first
• 1899–1901	Hallam Tennyson last
Legislature	Parliament of South Australia
• Upper house	Legislative Council (1836-1901)
• Lower house	House of Assembly (1857-1901)
History
• Independence from the Colony of New South Wales	1836
• Federation of Australia	1901
Preceded by Succeeded by Colony of New South Wales South Australia

"Old Colonists" Festival Dinner on 27 March 1851, in commemoration of the first sale of town land on 27 March 1837. Members of the 1836 government are listed alongside.

The British colonisation of South Australia tells the story of how the British government planned and created the colony of South Australia. This period started in 1829 with ideas from Edward Gibbon Wakefield. It ended in 1842 when the South Australia Act 1842 changed how the colony was governed.

Wakefield's ideas, shared since 1829, led to the South Australian Land Company in 1831. However, this first effort did not succeed, and the company closed down.

In 1833, the South Australian Association was created by Wakefield, Robert Gouger, and others. They suggested a new plan that was less extreme than earlier ones. This plan gained support and was presented to the British Parliament.

The British Province of South Australia officially began with the South Australia Act 1834 in August 1834. The South Australian Company was formed in October 1835. Its goal was to create the new colony, funded by selling land. The first settlers reached Kangaroo Island in July 1836. Soon after, all ships moved north to Holdfast Bay, following advice from Colonel William Light, the Surveyor-General. The founding of South Australia is often marked by Governor Hindmarsh's announcement at Glenelg on 28 December 1836.

However, the government created by the 1834 Act struggled financially. Because of this, the South Australia Act 1842 cancelled the earlier law. South Australia then became a Crown colony, directly controlled by the British Crown. This new Act also created an appointed Legislative Assembly. It gave more power to the Governor of South Australia, who was then Sir George Grey.

By the mid-1800s, people wanted more say in their government. South Australia became a self-governing colony in October 1856. This meant it could make many of its own decisions.

Exploring South Australia's Early History

Early Explorers and Claims

Before British settlement, French explorer Nicolas Baudin and British explorer Matthew Flinders explored the southern coast. On April 8, 1802, their ships met near what is now Encounter Bay. They named many places around Kangaroo Island and the two large bays, Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf. The British government wanted to claim the land before the French. So, they sent expeditions to other parts of Australia. They also established the Swan River Colony in 1829.

Historian Geoffrey Dutton describes three main stages in creating the colony. First, explorers made discoveries. Second, thinkers like Wakefield and Gouger developed plans, even without seeing Australia. Third, the actual settlers arrived. They had to make these plans work in real life.

Previous European Settlement on Kangaroo Island

Before the official British colony, Kangaroo Island had sealers living there since 1803. American captain Isaac Pendleton set up a base at American River. The island became popular for sealers from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).

In 1826, a newspaper called The Australian reported about 200 people on Kangaroo Island. They hunted seals and traded salt, wallaby, and kangaroo skins. By 1836, fewer people lived there as sealing became less profitable. Farms at Three Well Rivers grew crops and raised animals. Many residents lived with Aboriginal women. Some of these women were brought from other areas and faced very difficult situations.

1829–1831: Early Ideas for a New Colony

Edward Gibbon Wakefield's Vision

Edward Gibbon Wakefield thought about social problems, like too many people for available jobs. In 1829, he wrote anonymous "Letters from Sydney" for a London newspaper. In these letters, he pretended to be a settler in New South Wales. He shared his new ideas for creating colonies. He suggested an "Emigration Fund" paid for by land sales and taxes. This fund would help workers move to the colonies. Robert Gouger, a big supporter, helped publish these letters as a book.

Wakefield imagined colonies as new versions of British society. He wanted people from all social classes to be settlers. He also believed colonies should largely govern themselves. While his ideas weren't entirely new, Wakefield brought many theories together. He created a detailed plan for organised colonisation. He shared these ideas widely and encouraged the Colonial Office to act. After leaving prison in 1830, he started the National Colonization Society. Robert Gouger was its secretary. Wakefield's plans led to many discussions in the British Parliament.

When Charles Sturt found the River Murray in 1830, more people became interested in Wakefield's plan. A main part of his plan was to set land prices high enough. This would stop people from buying land just to sell it for more money later. In 1831, a "Proposal to His Majesty's Government" was written. It suggested a colony on Australia's southern coast. This plan was supported by Gouger, Anthony Bacon, Jeremy Bentham, and Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. However, its ideas were seen as too extreme. It failed to get enough money to start.

The South Australian Land Company

After his first plan didn't work, Wakefield published a new one. It was called "Plan of a company to be established for the purpose of founding a colony in Southern Australia...". So, the South Australian Land Company (SALC) was created in 1831. It aimed to build a new colony in South Australia. The SALC wanted a special permission, a Royal Charter, to buy land. This would help fund travel for immigrants. The company also wanted to govern the new colony itself. They thought the main settlement would be on Kangaroo Island or at Port Lincoln. This was based on earlier reports from Matthew Flinders.

But this plan was not approved. It included ideas like free trade and self-government. It also wanted the company to choose the Governor. These ideas were seen as too extreme and too much like a republic, not a monarchy.

1833–1835: Gaining Support for the Colony

The South Australian Association (1833)

In 1833, the South Australian Association was formed. It started asking the government to create a colony in South Australia. This new colony would have leaders chosen by the British Crown.

Robert Gouger began forming the South Australian Association in November 1833. He wrote to many important people, including George Grote and Sir Edward Smith-Stanley. The Association's goal was to make Edward Gibbon Wakefield's "systematic colonisation" idea a reality. They wanted the British government to create a new colony in South Australia. This colony would belong to the Crown but be managed by a group of trustees.

The Association's goals were published in The Spectator newspaper on January 11, 1834. They wanted to create a colony near Spencer Gulf. This colony would be under a Royal Charter and would not use convict labour. It would be far from existing prison settlements. The Association had three types of members. Some planned to settle in the colony. Others wanted to help without taking on big responsibilities. A third group took an active part in planning and would become trustees.

The members of the South Australian Association came from different backgrounds. They included philanthropists and merchants. Key members were Wakefield, Robert Gouger, Robert Torrens Sr, and George Fife Angas.

The Association held a large public meeting in London on June 30, 1834. It took place at Exeter Hall and was led by Wolryche-Whitmore. Over 2,500 people attended, including famous thinkers and social reformers. The discussions lasted for seven hours. Afterwards, hundreds of people showed interest in moving to the new colony.

The South Australia Act 1834

The Association worked hard for years, negotiating with the British government. They submitted many plans that changed over time. Finally, with help from the Duke of Wellington, their bill was presented to Parliament. The South Australia (Foundation) Act passed on August 15, 1834. This Act set up the Province of South Australia. It covered land sales, funding, and how the new colony would be governed.

The South Australian Colonization Commission

The South Australia Act 1834 created a new group to govern the colony. This group was called the South Australian Colonization Commission. It was based in London. However, the Act also gave control to the Colonial Office. This split control caused problems later on.

The Act allowed for three or more Commissioners to be appointed. They would manage specific parts of the Act. The Commissioners formed a Board responsible for:

• Selling land.
• An Emigration Fund to help poor people move from Great Britain and Ireland to South Australia.
• Appointing a treasurer, surveyors, and other necessary officers.

1835 advertisement

The British government appointed thirteen Commissioners in London. A Resident Commissioner was appointed by the Board to live in the colony. The first Commissioners were appointed on May 5, 1835. They included Colonel Robert Torrens (Chairman) and Rowland Hill (Secretary).

Power was shared between the Governor, John Hindmarsh, who represented the King, and the Resident Commissioner, James Hurtle Fisher. Fisher reported to the Colonisation Commissioners. He was in charge of surveying land, selling it, and organising migration and funding.

The Commissioner of Public Lands worked under the Commissioners' orders. All money went to the Lord of His Majesty's Treasury and was checked like other public funds. A report had to be sent to the Secretary of State at least once a year.

Robert Gouger became the Colonial Secretary for the Commission. John Hindmarsh was appointed Governor, and William Light became Surveyor-General. The Commission chose the capital city's location and managed land sales and surveys. However, the Act did not clearly define the powers of the Commission versus the Governor. This led to disagreements for several years.

The South Australian Company (1835)

The South Australian Commission Land Sale Regulations 1835 were created in 1835. They stated that land surveys and maps must be ready before land sales. Land could be bought at a set price per acre. If many buyers wanted the same land, it would be auctioned. Unsold lands could be leased for up to three years for grazing animals. All money from sales went to the Emigration Fund. This fund helped poorer people move to the colony. These rules were very important. The success of the Wakefield scheme depended on land development.

Selling land was difficult at first. Buyers were not eager to pay 20 shillings for an acre of wild land. The South Australian Company, formed on October 15, 1835, stepped in. After businessman George Fife Angas resigned as Commissioner, his company bought the remaining land needed for settlement. The South Australian Company played a crucial role in saving the colony.

Official Appointments and Early Challenges

The South Australia Act was finally approved on February 19, 1836. The first officials were then appointed.

Choosing the Governor was complicated because it was the most important and best-paid job. Sir Charles Napier was first considered. He had even written a book about South Australia's colonisation. However, Napier had disagreements and resigned.

Napier thought Light would be a good Governor. But John Hindmarsh wanted the job. He met with powerful supporters in London. On January 21, 1836, Captain Hindmarsh was appointed the first Governor of South Australia. Hindmarsh received a high salary, while others were paid less. Hindmarsh reported to the Colonial Office. James Hurtle Fisher, the Resident Commissioner, had practical control but earned much less.

Hindmarsh and Fisher often argued and could not work together. So, in 1838, both were called back to London. A new Governor, George Gawler, was appointed. He also took on the role of Resident Commissioner.

1836: The Province Begins

Official Documents and Aboriginal Rights

The process for founding South Australia was unclear to the Commissioners. So, Letters Patent, special official documents, were presented on February 19, 1836. With their approval and an Order-in-Council on February 23, 1836, the Province of South Australia was officially founded.

The Letters Patent made important changes. They updated the 1834 document, which had called the land "unoccupied." The new wording recognised the rights of "Aboriginal Natives" to live freely within the Province of South Australia. Three days later, the first migrant ship, the John Pirie, sailed for the colony. An amendment to the 1834 Act in 1838 included these changes.

First Settlers and the Proclamation

The Proclamation of South Australia 1836, Charles Hill.

Colonel William Light.

Under the emigration plan, "worthy" workers and their families received free passage. They had to be between 15 and 30 years old, preferably married, and needed two references. Passengers paid different amounts depending on their cabin class. Children under 14 paid £3, and babies under 1 year travelled free.

Montefiore and Lt-Col Palmer helped Colonel Light prepare two ships, Rapid and Cygnet. They suggested new rules for ships carrying over 100 passengers. These rules included a minimum deck height and having a medical practitioner on board. These improvements reduced deaths during the journey. Later, all British emigrant ships adopted these reforms.

Four ships chartered by the South Australia Company sailed in early 1836:

• The John Pirie left on February 22 with 24 passengers.
• The Duke of York left on February 24 with 42 passengers.
• The Lady Mary Pelham departed London on March 30 with 29 passengers.
• The Emma left London on April 21 with 22 passengers.

All four South Australia Company ships arrived at Nepean Bay on Kangaroo Island. The Duke of York arrived on July 27, Lady Mary Pelham on July 30, John Pirie on August 16, and Emma on October 5. More ships followed, making a total of at least nine. These are often called the First Fleet of South Australia. Most ships went to Nepean Bay first, except for the last one, HMS Buffalo.

A settlement began at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island on July 27, 1836. This is now a heritage-listed site, as it was the first formal European settlement in South Australia. However, this site was soon left for a mainland settlement. Some original ships sailed to Holdfast Bay in November and December. Robert Gouger, now Colonial Secretary, arrived on the Africaine on November 8, 1836. The settlers set up camp, and the Buffalo joined them on December 28.

The founding of South Australia is usually marked by Governor Hindmarsh's Proclamation of South Australia at Glenelg on December 28, 1836.

Colonel Light had two months to find the best place for the main colony. He needed a site with a harbour, arable land (good for farming), fresh water, easy communications, building materials, and good drainage. Light rejected places like Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln, and Encounter Bay. He decided the Adelaide plains were the best spot.

The River Torrens was found to the south. Light and his team then worked to choose the city's exact location and design. The survey was finished on March 11, 1837. Light's team, who were not well paid or equipped, then had to survey a huge area of rural land. Despite suffering from tuberculosis, Light managed to survey 605.7 square kilometres (233.9 sq mi) (about 150,000 acres (61,000 ha)) by June 1838.

Growth of the Settlement

The settlement grew steadily. In 1836, the South Australian Company brought pure merino sheep from Germany. Cows and goats were also shipped over. Sheep and other farm animals came from Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales. The wool industry was very important for South Australia's economy in the early years. The first wool auction in Adelaide happened in 1840.

Most settlers were British. However, some German settlers, mainly "Old Lutherans", also arrived early on. The first large group of Germans came in 1838, helped by the Emigration Fund. By 1842, most moved out of Adelaide to places like the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills settlements such as Hahndorf. They lived in close-knit communities and did not take part in government until 1857.

1840: Adelaide City Council Established

The City of Adelaide Municipal Corporation was created in 1840. Its first meeting was on November 4, 1840. This made it the first municipal (local government) authority in Australia. James Hurtle Fisher was elected as Adelaide's, and Australia's, first mayor. However, the new corporation faced money problems. Many of its actions were not approved by the British government. This led to a lot of debt, and the corporation closed down in 1843.

Architecture and Engineering in the Colony

The role of Colonial Architect was created by July 1840. George Strickland Kingston was the first person appointed to this position. Other architects who served in this role included Richard Lambeth and William Bennett Hays.

The engineering and architecture departments changed names and structures over the years. Some of the names included:

• Colonial Engineer's Office (1841–1852)
• Colonial Architects Department [I] (1852–1854)
• Public Works Department (1854–1857)
• Colonial Architects Department [II] (1854–1860)
• Engineer and Architect's Department (1860–1867)

From 1867, these functions were split into separate departments:

• Engineer in Chief's Department (1867–1906)
• Architect in Chief's Department (1867–1960)

Changes for the Colonization Commission

By 1840, it was clear that the colonial government had almost bankrupted South Australia. Because of this, the South Australian Colonization Commission lost its powers. Robert Torrens wrote a report in March 1841. It explained how the colony's finances had been poorly managed. He suggested that a loan in 1840 could have prevented the "calamitous crisis." Records show the Commissioners defended their actions in July 1841.

The position of Agent General for Emigration existed from 1837 to 1840. Thomas Frederick Elliot held this role. After the South Australian Colonization Commission was closed, the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission took over its duties. This new Commission was created in 1840, and the full transfer from the South Australian Commission was completed by early 1843.

South Australia Act 1842: Becoming a Crown Colony

The South Australia Act 1842 is a law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its full name was "An Act to provide for the better Government of South Australia."

This Act was passed on July 30, 1842. It cancelled the South Australia Act 1834 and its changes. It set up a different way of governing the colony. The Act was created because a British Parliamentary Enquiry found that the colonial government had failed. This failure had almost bankrupted South Australia in 1840. The new Act gave the British Government full control over South Australia, making it a Crown Colony.

Steps Towards Self-Government

By the mid-1800s, people in Australia's colonies strongly desired to govern themselves. The Australian Colonies Government Act 1850 was a very important law. It gave New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania the right to create their own representative governments. The colonies eagerly wrote constitutions. These created democratic parliaments with the British monarch as the symbolic head of state. In 1850, elections for legislative councils were held in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.

Old Parliament House in 1872

In 1855, London granted limited self-government to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. An innovative secret ballot system was introduced in Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia in 1856. In this system, the government provided voting papers with candidate names. Voters could then choose privately. This system became known as the "Australian Ballot" and was adopted worldwide. In the same year, all British men aged 21 or over gained the right to vote.

South Australia Becomes Self-Governing (1856)

South Australia became a self-governing colony in October 1856. This happened when the British parliament approved a new constitution through the Constitution Act 1856 (UK). This Act created a bicameral (two-house) Parliament. This Parliament had full power to make laws, except for a few that needed Royal Assent. The Legislative Council was elected only by property owners. However, the 37-member House of Assembly was elected by a broad group of male voters. A parliament was elected by secret ballot on March 9, 1857. By this time, 109,917 people lived in the province.

Many decades after the federation of Australia in 1901, the Constitution Act 1856 was replaced. This happened with the Constitution Act 1934

See also

• History of Adelaide
• History of Australia (1788–1850)
• History of South Australia
• William Light