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The New Colony
The New Colony
The South Australian Association was formed in London on 27 Nov 1833 with the aim of founding a convict free colony on the south coast of the continent of Australia. Radical reformer Robert Gouger was a key player, becoming Secretary. The Association had an office in the grand Adelphi building just off the Strand and overlooking the Thames.
A public meeting the next June attracted about 2500 people to hear about the project and its principles, including no slavery, freedom of religion and the Wakefield systematic colonisation scheme. UK legislation to establish the province was passed in 1834 and its 'first fleet' of nine migrant ships arrived through the latter half of 1836.
The founding document for the new British colony of South Australia was signed by King William IV on 19 February 1836.
The Letters Patent established a system of government for the only colony to be established by statute (1834) and precisely defined its boundaries. Interestingly, it also gave protection to Aboriginal lands, stating:
"nothing in these our letters patent contained shall affect or be construed to affect the rights of any Aboriginal Natives of the said Province to the actual occupation or enjoyment in their own Persons or in the Persons of their Descendants of any Lands therein now actually occupied or enjoyed by such Natives."
The original document is in the State Library of South Australia Collection .
In 1836 the HMS Buffalo departed for South Australia. It was the last and best known of the straggling 'first fleet' of 9 emigrant ships to the new reformist British colony of South Australia finally made its way down the English Channel on 3 August 1836. HMS Buffalo carried Governor Sir John Hindmarsh and some 176 passengers on a 5 month voyage to the 'Paradise of Dissent'.
The ship had officially left Plymouth a week before, but was beaten back by gales and forced to shelter behind the Isle of Wight. In that time three young couples were married on board. The perils of shipboard travel were soon evident, as this diary entry of 5 August reveals:
'The ladies and most of the gentlemen suffering from the mal de mer. The emigrants also in no very savoury condition.'
George Stephensons diary of the voyage can be found on the Bound for South Australia website of the History Trust of South Australia.
https://boundforsouthaustralia.history.sa.gov.au/.../geo.../
Below Music video by Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends performing South Australia. (C) 2010 IBC Representations Ltd exclusively licensed to Universal-Island Records Ltd.
HMS Buffalo watercolour by acclaimed Maritime artist John Ford OAM
His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Lady Tennyson and Lord Richard Nevill, arrived at Victor Harbour in the viceregal car at 9.45 on Monday night, and were accommodated at the Grosvenor Hotel. The weather on Tuesday was dull, but several hundreds of people journeyed to the Bluff to witness the ceremony. The shops were closed, and Victor Harbour for the time being was almost deserted.
The Geographical Society was represented by;
President (Mr. Simpson Newland),
Assistant secretary (Mr. T. S. Reid),
Councilors W. P. Auld, A. M. Simpson, and T. Gilland
T. Piper
David Lindsay.
Mrs. Newland,
Mr, E. B. Grundy, K.C., and Mrs. Grundy.
Mr. Owen Smyth (Superintendent of Public Buildings,
Mrs.Smyth, Messrs.
Candidates for the District of Alexandra Tucker, von Doussa, McDonald, Blacker, Dumas
Dr. A. Powell
Robert Jager (who settled in the district in 1839)
E. P. Pilgrim (whose mother was a niece of Capt. Flinders)
David Bell
W. B. Caw
John Acraman
Mr. and Mrs. G. Bundey
The Rev. W. Penry Jones
E. H. Cudmore
W. Porter
A. Battye
S. W. Jackman
G. Goodwin
M. Rumbelow
E. R. Bolger
W. S. Reid
H. B. Hughes
C. J. Weymouth
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