EVENTS AND STATISTICS

IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HISTORY 1834-1857

Covering the period from settlement of the Colony to the commencement of responsible Government.

1834

• South Australian Colonization Act (4 & 5 William IV. Cap 95) assented to - 15 August.

1835

• Board of Commissioners appointed (Torrens as chairman).

1836

• South Australia Company formed - January
• The South Australia Company vessels - John Pirie and Duke of York leave England for South Australia - February, followed by the Lady Mary Pelham.
• The first migrants to South Australia arrive, landing at Kangaroo Island - 20 July.
• First school in colony opened - on Kangaroo Island.
• South Australia proclaimed a Province - 28 December.
• Governor of South Australia: Captain John Hindmarsh RN KH, arrival at Holdfast Bay - 28 December.
  Hindmarsh, Colonel Light and J H Fisher visit the proposed site of Adelaide - 30 December
• Population estimate at 31 December - 546 persons.

1837

• Surveying of Adelaide commences on 11 January and completed 10 March
  First land allotments in Adelaide made following Colonel William Light's survey of Adelaide - March.
  Naming of streets and squares in Adelaide commenced - 23 May.
• The first newspaper (Gazette and Register) in South Australia printed - 03 June.
• Supreme Court of South Australia established.
• Hospital opened on North Terrace, Adelaide.
• First Congregational Service conducted in Adelaide by Rev T Q Stow - 19 December.
• Public Expenditure £5,283.
• Shipwrecks for the year were Sir Charles McCarthy (near Holdfast Bay) and the South Australian (Rosetta Harbour)

1838

• First ballot for country sections of land held - May
  Land sales for the year total 47,932 acres at £1 per acre.
• Cattle and sheep arrive in the colony, overland from New South Wales, brought by Joseph Hawdon,
  Edward John Eyre and Charles Sturt.
• Total livestock approx 480 horses, 2,500 cattle, 28,000 sheep.
• 86 acres under cultivation including 20 acres for wheat.
• Imports total £158,582 and exports £6,442.
• First wool exports - 4 bales - to England in the Orator - 21 May.
• German settlers, led by Pastor Kavel arrive on the Prince George and settle at Klemzig.
• First missionaries to the aborigines arive from the Dresden Missionary Society 
  (Teichelmann & Schürmann) - 12 Oct
• Population estimate 31 December - 6,000..
• 3,154 migrants departed from England during the year.
• Recorded births 83, deaths 67 and marriages 75.
• Formation of police force.
• First execution in South Australia - Michael Magee - for an attempt on the life of the sherrif, J Smart - 02 May
• Governor of South Australia: Lt-Colonel George Gawler KH - 17 October.
• Agricultural production - area cultivated for wheat - 20 acres.
• Public revenue £1,448, public expenditure £16,580..
• Shipwrecks for the year were the Elizabeth (Rivoli Bay) and Parsee (Troubridge Shoal)

1839

• Fire destroys the houses of Light and Fisher at Thebarton - 22 January.
  Losses in the fire included Light's private journal for the previous 30 years.
• Colonel William Light dies at Thebarton - 06 October.
• Construction of the first road in the colony (Adelaide to Port Adelaide) commences - 25 May.
• Agricultural production - area cultivated for wheat - 120 acres out of a total 443 acres cultivated.
• South Australian Agricultural Society established - October (later merging to form the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA).
• Botanic and Horticultural Gardens established by subscription with John Bailey as botanist.
• Immigration was 477 persons (recorded).
• Branch of the Bank of Australasia established - 14 January.
• Adelaide rainfall 19.84" (504mm).
• Public revenue £19,826, public expenditure £96,186.

1840

• Edward John Eyre commences overland journey to Western Australia.
• The Municipality of Adelaide incorporated - the first in Australia, with the first elections being held on 31 October. The first Mayor was James Hurtle Fisher. (The Council went bankrupt in 1843)
• Agricultural production - area cultivated for wheat - 1,059 acres with total area cultivated 2,503 acres.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 425 with total tonnage 83,787.
• Port Adelaide opened - replacing the old Port of Adelaide "Port Misery".
• Opening of the Adelaide - Port Adelaide road - 14 October.
• Settlement at Noarlunga laid out.
• Population estimate 14,600.
• Immigration was 2,992 persons (recorded).
• Adelaide rainfall 24.23" (615mm).
• Land sales reached 299,072 acres.
• Public revenue £30,618, public expenditure £171,430
  Total debt chargeable on the revenue of the colony reaches £305,328 2s 7d - 01 May.

1841

• Population at 01 January - 15,485 persons. (The 1841 census is the only one in South Australia for which any detailed records survive.)
• Immigration recorded was 776 persons.
• The first mine in South Australia, Wheal Gawler at Glen Osmond, commenced - producing silver-lead ore.
  The mineral deposit was discovered by Thomas and Hutchins, two Cornish miners.
• 500,000 acres of land surveyed by mid year (since 1836).
• Economic depression leads to the suspension of Assisted migration.
• Governor of South Australia: George Grey, Esq. - 15 May
• Public expenditure cut, resulting in considerable unemployment.
• Public revenue £25,329, public expenditure £89,999.
• First Savings Bank established - 06 March.
• Edward John Eyre arrives at Albany, Western Australia.
• Adelaide rainfall 17.96" (456mm) over 93 days.
• Government revenue $51,000, expenditure $180,000.
• Nearly 2,000 destitute persons on government support - December.
• Road tolls imposed on carriages and stock at Glen Osmond.
• Shipment from the Cape (Cape Town) of 57,200 vine cuttings and a "choice variety of fruit trees" - October.
• Agricultural production - area cultivated for wheat - 4,721 acres, (barley 1,000 acres, oats 1,000 acres).

1842

• Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages commenced - 01 July.
• Legislative Council constituted.
• South Australian Board of Colonization Commissioners abolished.
• Public revenue £23,404, public expenditure £68,434.
• Copper discovered at Kapunda by Francis Dutton.
• Division of part of the colony into counties (Adelaide, Eyre, Flinders, Gawler, Hindmarsh, Light, Russell,
   Stanley, Sturt)
• Due to the depressed state of the economy 642 out of 1,915 houses in Adelaide were vacant and
  216 were in a state of disrepair. - December.
• Agricultural production - area cultivated for wheat - 15,281 acres.
• Estimated livestock numbers - 250,000 sheep, 21,000 cattle, 1,000 horses.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 150 with total tonnage 25,354.
• Adelaide rainfall 20.32" (516mm).

1843

• Ridley's stripper invented.
• Flour mill built at Hindmarsh.
• Agricultural production - area cultivated 28,690 acres of which wheat - 23,000 acres.
• Livestock estimated at 1,576 horses, 29,000 cattle and 331,000 sheep.
• Australia's first exports of mineral ore - from Glen Osmond.
• First steam engine in the colony erected by Messrs Wyatt.
• Imports total £109,137, exports £80,858 of which minerals were £127.
• Public revenue £24,953, public expenditure £34,386.
• Immigration recorded was 1,213 persons and emigration 1,477.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 104 with total tonnage 15,533.
• Adelaide rainfall 17.19" (437mm).

1844

• The first Colonial Census held 26 February, indicating a population of 17,366, including 96 at Port Lincoln. Adelaide's population approx. 10,000.
• Immigration was 1,114 persons and emigration 436.
  200 German migrants arrived on 18 September.
  Estimates of at least 1,000 persons arriving in the colony from New South Wales during the year.
• First Roman Catholic Church erected in the colony (Morphett Vale) dedicated - 08 December.
• Public revenue £26,899, public expenditure £29,362.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 139 with total tonnage 18,489.
• South Australia producing wheat in excess of its own requirements.
• Imports £118,915, exports £95,272 of which wool £42,769 and minerals £6,436.
• Area under cultivation 26,918 acres including 18,980 acres for wheat.
• Adelaide rainfall 16.88" (429mm).

1845

• Copper discovered at Burra.
• Gold discovered near Montacute.
• Assisted migration resumed.
• Immigration recorded was 2,336 persons and emigration 449.
• Public revenue £32,433, public expenditure £40,775.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 225 with total tonnage 26,558.
• Imports £184,819, exports £148,459 of which wool £72,235 and minerals £19,020.
• Governor of South Australia: Lt-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe - 25 October.
• Charles Sturt's exploration of north eastern South Australia.
• Population estimate 31 December - 21,759.
  Earlier in the year when the population was 19,317 there were 1,273 Roman Catholics.
• Livestock includes 26,146 cattle and 480,669 sheep.
• Adelaide rainfall 18.83" (478mm).

1846

• Population at census, 26 February, was 22,390, including 132 at Port Lincoln and 70 on Kangaroo Island. Adelaide's population 13,871.
• 937 births during year, 360 deaths and 189 marriages.
• Immigration recorded was 4,458 persons and emigration 863.
• The first pastoral leases granted.
• John Horrocks uses Australia's first camel for exploration.
• Mining - 6,461 tons of copper ore produced with a value equal to $285,000.
• Adelaide rainfall 26.89" (683mm) over 114 days.
• Public revenue £47,286, public expenditure £38,690.
• Government revenue £47,286 ($95,000), expenditure £38,690 ($77,000).
• Imports £330,099 and exports £312,838 of which wool £106,510 and minerals £143,231.
• Area under cultivation for agriculture 33,292 acres of which 26,134 acres for wheat.
  

1847

• First winery in the Barossa Valley commenced operations.
• St Peter's College established.
• Livestock includes 56,375 cattle and 784,811 sheep.
• Road tolls at Glen Osmond ceased.
• Population estimate 31 December - 31,153.
• Immigration recorded was 5,645 persons and emigration 885.
• Adelaide rainfall 27.61" (701mm).
  Hailstorm in Adelaide with hailstones ranging in size from marbles to pigeon's eggs - 19 July.
• First building society in colony established - The Adelaide and Suburban Building Society - 10 February.
• Public revenue £66,342, public expenditure £58,879.
• Imports £410,825 and exports £350,348 of which wool £56,130 and minerals £174,017.

1848

• Savings Bank of South Australia established.
• First ferry over the River Murray - at Wellington.
• Pulteney Street Church of England Grammar School established.
• St Peter's College established. 
• Governor of South Australia: Sir Henry E F Young - 02 August.
• Population estimate 31 December - 38,666.
• Immigration was 7,664 persons and emigration 1,042.
• Public revenue £82,911, public expenditure £80,129.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 412 with total tonnage 90,956.
• Imports £384,326 and exports £504,068 of which wool £98,582 and minerals £320,624.
• Adelaide rainfall 19.74" (501mm).
• Area under cultivation 48,911 acres including 29,737 acres for wheat.

1849

• Central Board of Main Roads established.
• Population estimate 31 December - 52,904.
• Immigration recorded was 16,166 persons and emigration 2,694.
  First shipload of Irish orphans arrived - June.
• Village of Woodville laid out.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 549 with total tonnage 155,920.
• Public revenue £108,301, public expenditure £82,637.
• Imports £599,548, exports £402,853 including wool £108,539 and minerals £219,775.
• Adelaide rainfall 25.44" (646mm).

1850

• The British Parliament passes an Act granting representative government to South Australia.
• Population estimate 31 December - 63,700.
• Immigration recorded was 10,358 persons and emigration 4,221.
• Public revenue £238,983, public expenditure £239,081.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 559 with total tonnage 174,455.
• Imports £845,572, exports £570,817 including wool £131,731, minerals £365,464 and breadstuffs £38,312.
• Livestock includes 6,488 horses, 60,034 cattle and 984,190 sheep.
• Acreage under cultivation - total 64,728 of which wheat 41,807, hay 13,302 and other crops 9,619 acres.
• Adelaide rainfall 19.51" (496mm).
• The South Australian Register became a daily paper - 01 January.
• The postal system included 63 Post Offices and handled 266,588 letters and 393,177 newspapers. Income was £5,413.
• Savings bank depositors - total number 672. Total Savings Bank funds £11,772.
• 64 Public Schools had a total enrolment of 1,867 scholars.

1851

• Central Board of Education established.
• Population reaches 66,538 by 31 December. Adelaide's population 32,810 (Census 01 January - 63,700).
• Immigration recorded was 8,464 persons and emigration 6,025.
• Mount Barker farmer John Frame wins a gold medal at the Great Exhibition in London for the quality of his wheat.
• Legislative Council elections held - July.
• Public revenue £222,559, public expenditure £183,506.
• Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 538 with total tonnage 155,002.
• Imports £690,777, exports £602,087 including wool £148,036, minerals £310,916 and breadstuffs £73,359.
• Adelaide rainfall 30.63" (778mm).
• The postal system included 72 Post Offices and handled 364,595 letters and 517,722 newspapers. Total income was £6,805.
• Savings bank depositors - total number 732. Total Savings Bank funds £14,785.
• 115 Public Schools had a total enrolment of 3,031 scholars.

1852

• Arrival of the First Gold Escort under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Alexander Tolmer,
  with gold valued at £18,456 9s, sent by 300 gold diggers - 19 March.
  Second Gold Escort arrives in Adelaide with £70,000 gold (1,600 ounces) from 851 diggers - 04 May.
• Eleven ships arrived at Port Adelaide with 687 passengers returning from the Victorian gold fields - June.
• Gold discovered at Echunga - 23 August.
• Immigration for the year 20,789 with emigration at 16,475.
• Population estimate 31 December - 68,663

1853

• Gold Escorts discontinued after bringing gold valued at approximately £2 million to South Australia - December.
• Navigation of the Murray commences with W R Randell's Mary Ann and Francis Cadell's Lady Augusta.
• The cost of the necessaries and comforts of life in South Australia increased by about 150% during the year.
• Immigration recorded at 20,128 and emigration 11,648.
• Population estimate 31 December - 78,944

1854

• First railway (horse drawn) in South Australia between Goolwa and Port Elliot in operation.
• Immigration recorded at 17,258 and emigration at 5,467.
• Population estimate 31 December - 92,545
• Adelaide's rainfall 15.35" (390mm) - the driest year since settlement. 

1855

• Governor of South Australia: Sir R G MacDonnell - 08 June.
• First electric telegraph in South Australia commences operation between Adelaide and Port Adelaide,
  being a private enterprise of James MacGeorge - 26 November.
• South Australian Museum opened.
• First South Australian postage stamps issued.
• Immigration for the year 17,211 and emigration 4,501.
• Population estimate 31 December - 96,982
  Population at census on 31 March - 85,821.

1856

• First Government telegraph in South Australia opened (Adelaide to Port Adelaide) - 18 February.
• First telegraph line between Adelaide and Melbourne opened - 19 July.
• Number of telegrams sent for year - 14,738.
• Railway from Adelaide to Port Adelaide constructed.
  241,886 passengers and 26,354 tons freight carried 
• New South Australian Constitution proclaimed - 24 October.
• South Australia contributed £200 to the testimonial to Florence Nightingale for her services in the Crimea.
• Fire in Hindley Street destroys property including that of Messrs. Solomon & Co. Total loss estimated at £100,000.
• Immigration for the year 9,525 and emigration 7,278.
• Population estimate 31 December - 104,708

1857

• First meeting of the first South Australian Parliament - 22 April.
• Railway from Adelaide to Gawler (25 miles) completed - 05 October.
• Total railway traffic for year 359,335 passengers and 95,190 tons freight.
• Construction of a jetty at Glenelg commences.
• Number of telegrams sent for the year - 35,792.
• South Australian postal service handles 934,550 letters and 849,946 newspapers with 110 Post Offices..
• Immigration for the year 8,138 and emigration 4,909.
• Population estimate 31 December - 109,917.
• Savings Bank depositors number 1,775 with total funds of £70,136.
• 167 public schools have a total of 7,480 scholars.
• Number of churches and chapels in colony - 294.
• Shipwrecks during the year:
  Phaeton, Sultana, Koenig Wilhelm II (Guichen Bay)
  Haleyon (near Murray Mouth)
  Swordfish, Josephine L'Arizeau (Port Elliot)
  Maid of the Valley (Port Willunga)

Sources:

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This page was created 24 January 1998 and last updated 15 April 2002. © 2001 Robert D Blair.