Lyla Lindsey
South Australia has a unique colonial history compared to the rest of Australia. Unlike the rest of the continent, it was not established as a penal colony, and it was founded as a freely settled, planned British province. The South Australia Act 1834, passed by the British Parliament, set out the governance of the new colony and provided for the sale of lands, funding of the venture, and emigration. The first settlers arrived in South Australia in 1836, with the foundation of the colony usually considered to be Governor Hindmarsh's Proclamation of South Australia at Glenelg on 28 December of that year. The population of the new province, including Kangaroo Island and Rapid Bay, was estimated to be 546 at the end of 1836. By 1841, the population had grown to 15,485, and in 1850s over 5,400 Germans settled in South Australia, starting the wine industry in the Barossa Valley. Today, South Australia comprises less than 8% of the Australian population, with the majority of its people residing in greater Metropolitan Adelaide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first settlement | 26 July 1836 |
| Location of first settlement | Kingscote, Kangaroo Island |
| Number of people in the first settlement | 636 |
| Number of ships in the first settlement fleet | 7 |
| Date of official settlement | 28 December 1836 |
| Date of foundation of Adelaide | 31 December 1836 |
| Estimated European population of the new province of South Australia by 31 December 1836 | 546 |
| Population estimate as of 31 December 1840 | 6,000 |
| Population as per 1841 census | 15,485 |
| Number of German settlers who arrived in 1840 | 2,000 |
| Aboriginal population by the time of European contact | 15,000 |
| Year when evidence of human activity in South Australia was dated back to | 20,000 years ago |
| Year when the land that now forms South Australia was claimed for Britain | 1788 |
| Year when the South Australia Act was passed | 1834 |
| Year when the first 'school' was opened in South Australia | 1836 |
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What You'll Learn
The first settlers arrived in Glenelg
The first settlers in South Australia arrived on Kangaroo Island in July 1836, with nine ships accommodating 636 people in total. The ships included Cygnet, Africaine, Tam O'Shanter, Rapid, HMS Buffalo, John Pirie, Emma, Lady Mary Pelham, and Duke of York. The South Australian Company established a temporary settlement at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, on 26 July 1836, five months before Adelaide was founded. The first settlers were mostly British, but some German settlers, mainly "Old Lutherans", also emigrated in the early years.
The foundation of South Australia is usually considered to be Governor Hindmarsh's Proclamation of South Australia at Glenelg on 28 December 1836. The first European settlers arrived in Glenelg in 1836. The majority of the land quickly became a rural farming area. Because of its sand hills and long sandy beaches, it also became a place for holiday houses built by wealthy professionals and notable people of the day.
Glenelg has been a popular spot for recreation and leisure for much of its history. In 1930, an amusement park similar to Luna Park Melbourne was constructed on Glenelg's foreshore. Glenelg became a municipality in 1855. Post-war immigration transformed the once-rural seaside village into a town. The settlement grew quickly with the advent of the railway and the automobile.
In the mid-19th century, South Australia began to develop a widespread rail network, although a coastal shipping network continued until the post-war period. Roads began to improve with the introduction of motor transport. By the late 19th century, road transport dominated internal transport in South Australia.
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636 people settled in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
South Australia's first colonial settlement was established in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, on July 27, 1836. The South Australian Company established a temporary settlement, with 636 people arriving on nine ships in total. The ships included Cygnet, Africaine, Tam O'Shanter, Rapid, HMS Buffalo, John Pirie, Emma, Lady Mary Pelham, and Duke of York.
The settlement was established five months before Adelaide was founded, and it was suggested that Kingscote could serve as the capital of South Australia. However, the island's resources were insufficient to support a large community, and Adelaide was ultimately chosen as the capital. Kingscote became the first free settlement in Australia, facing challenges such as a lack of water and suitable building timber. After four years, the settlement was abandoned in favour of Adelaide.
The early history of Kangaroo Island is marked by intermittent sealing and whaling activities in the early 19th century. Richard Siddins reached the island in 1812, engaging in salt harvesting. George Sutherland reported on the island in 1819, exaggerating its potential for settlement. In 1836, the first official settlers arrived aboard the Duke of York, marking the beginning of permanent British colonisation in the region.
Kangaroo Island has played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of South Australia. It served as a temporary base for ships engaged in whaling and sealing, and later became the site of the first colonial settlement in the region. Today, Kingscote remains the largest town on Kangaroo Island and the seat of the local government, with a population of 1,917 residents as of 2021. The island's population has grown steadily over time, influenced by the increase in tourism and employment opportunities.
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5,400 Germans settled in the Barossa Valley
South Australia has a unique colonial history in Australia as a freely settled, planned British province, rather than a convict settlement. The region has a long history of human occupation, with evidence of Aboriginal presence dating back tens of thousands of years.
In the 19th century, South Australia became the chosen location for an experimental form of colonisation, attracting a large number of immigrants with its promise of civil and religious liberties. During this time, over 5,400 Germans settled in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. The Barossa Valley, located 60 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, was first named in the early 1830s by Colonel William Light, who named it after the Barossa of Spain. The first German settlers arrived in the Barossa Valley in the 1840s, and the German influence in the region remains strong to this day.
The German settlers in the Barossa Valley were known for their hard work and pride in the land, developing some of the best farms and crops in the region. They were also instrumental in starting the wine industry in the area, with the first vines planted in 1847 at the Jacobs Creek winery. Today, the Barossa Valley is known worldwide for its wine, with over 50 wineries producing a variety of red and white wines that are exported globally. The German settlers also had a significant impact on the culture and language of the region, with the development of Barossa German, a dialect of German that is still spoken in the area.
The towns of Tanunda, Nuriootpa, and Angaston in the Barossa Valley were influenced by German settlement, with Tanunda being recognised as the most German of the three. The German settlers in Tanunda named the town Neu-Schlesien, or "New Silesia", as many of them had come from Prussian Silesia. The town of Nuriootpa, the largest in the Barossa Valley, was influenced by both German and British settlers, and Angaston was settled predominantly by Cornish miners and other British settlers.
The Barossa Valley is known for its rich cultural heritage, with many German traditions and influences still present in the region today. Visitors can explore German settlements, take heritage tours, and experience the unique food, wine, and art of the area, including the annual Barossa Gourmet Weekend, a three-day celebration of the region's offerings.
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Aboriginal population was 15,000 at the time of European contact
South Australia has a long history of human occupation by numerous tribes and languages. The land that became the state of South Australia was claimed for Britain in 1788 as part of the colony of New South Wales. However, early settlements were all on the eastern coast, and it wasn't until 1829-30 that the British began to explore the interior of South Australia.
The Aboriginal population of South Australia at the time of European contact is estimated to have been around 15,000 people. This population was made up of small bands, usually numbering around 25 people, that lived together daily and shared a particular range of land. Several bands made up one clan, which had a defined territory and was united by a claimed descent from a single ancestor. Several clans made up one tribe, of which there were around 48 in South Australia by the time of European settlement. The Aboriginal people had a complex subsistence system, with elements of agriculture and permanent settlements in some areas, and a mobile or semi-nomadic lifestyle in others. They had trade networks that spanned the continent, and their tools included knives with ground edges, grinding devices, and eating containers.
The first British colonists arrived in South Australia in December 1836, with the official settlement commencing on 28 December 1836. Nine ships carrying 636 people in total set sail for South Australia earlier that year, and a temporary settlement was established at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island on 26 July 1836, five months before Adelaide was founded.
The arrival of the British had a devastating impact on the Aboriginal people. The colonists brought diseases that decimated the indigenous population, and those who were not ravaged by disease were displaced by the clearing of land for settlements and farms. The Aboriginal people also suffered violence and killings at the hands of the settlers, and their traditional social and family structures were further shattered by the introduction of alcohol by the British.
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The population was 6,000 by 31 December 1838
The population of South Australia was estimated to be 6,000 by 31 December 1838. This included the population of Kangaroo Island and Rapid Bay, which was estimated to be 546 on 31 December. The settlement of South Australia was founded on the principle of systematic colonisation, with no convict settlers. The South Australia Act of 1834 created the Province of South Australia, and the first settlers arrived on Kangaroo Island in July 1836. The colony was proclaimed by Governor Hindmarsh at Glenelg on 28 December 1836.
The settlers were mostly British, but there were also some German settlers, mainly "Old Lutherans". The first large group of Germans arrived in 1838 with financial assistance from the Emigration Fund. By 1843, the population of South Australia had grown to 14,600, with a recorded immigration of 2,992 people. The colony was facing significant financial challenges, and the Council went bankrupt in 1843.
The South Australian Company played a significant role in the early years of the colony. They established a temporary settlement at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island in July 1836, and their ships brought over livestock, including pure merinos from Saxony, cows, and goats. The Company also sought to establish whale and seal fisheries and obtained permission to send their ships to South Australia in advance of the official surveys.
The early years of the colony were marked by exploration and surveying. Colonel William Light led the First Expedition and was tasked with examining 1,500 miles of the South Australian coastline to select the best site for the capital. Despite suffering from tuberculosis, Light managed to survey over 600 square kilometres of land by June 1838. The settlement of Adelaide, which became the capital, was founded on 31 December 1836.
The population of South Australia continued to grow, and by 1850, the colony was facing a labour shortage due to the discovery of gold in Victoria. This also created a high demand for South Australian wheat. During the 1850s, over 5,400 Germans settled in South Australia, contributing to the colony's growth and development.
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Frequently asked questions
The first expedition to South Australia was led by William Light and consisted of nine ships carrying 636 people in total.
By the mid-19th century, the population of South Australia was estimated to be around 6,000 people. This included an influx of over 5,400 Germans who settled in the region during the 1850s.
South Australia comprises less than 8% of the Australian population.
