Precis 28

Early Days on Eyre Peninsula 28

Port Lincoln Called 'Emporium of State' 

March 19, 1839, Claimed as Birthday

By J. D. Somerville

Nearly every settler was enthusiastic about Port Lincoln. Even the 'South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register' suggested that the new township was "certain to be the seat of the future commerce of South Australia." 

As an instance of this spirit, one George Dehane removed his printing plant to Port Lincoln for publishing a newspaper, the 'Port Lincoln Herald.' The first number was published by the proprietor of the 'South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register' (R. Thomas) on April 10, 1839. There were many delays before it was issued. … [Speculation on how many issues. ]. In the course of these 18 months the title was altered twice… [Description of titles, size, and price, and an advertisement of its commencement]. 

EARLY PAPERS 

Mrs. Mary Thomas, wife of R. Thomas, under date March 10, 1839, in a letter to her brother refers to the early issue of the 'Port Lincoln Herald,' … 

Another paper in connection with Port Lincoln, was the 'Egotist,' [size, price,] published by Joseph Barnett, for Charles Smith. The information in it is of a rambling nature, but may have been clear to those who knew the other side of the picture. It appears that Smith and Shaen gave some bills, probably in connection with their purchase of shares in the Port Lincoln Special Survey, the purchase of the Dorset and other transactions. While Smith was at Port Lincoln, the bills fell due, and were not met. On Smith's immediate return to Adelaide, he had a strenuous fortnight's fight to rehabilitate himself and Shaen in the public's favor, to his own mind successfully. Who were his antagonists is not clear, but W. F. Porter came in for a large share of abuse. ..[speculation on the number of issues of the Egotist]. [Trove lists articles from 14 May, 18 May, 4 June, 25 June 1839 - Ed.]. The Press in those days, did not fight with a gloved hand, but bit hard, straight out from the shoulder and with a closed fist. The 'Egotist' is typical of the others. As a result of the publication of the 'Egotist,' charities were benefited by at least £50, that amount having been handed to the Governor to distribute… [details charities that benefitted].

FIRST SETTLERS ARRIVE 

The first contingent of new settlers left Port Adelaide on March 11, 1839. and arrived at Boston Bay by the Abeona (Capt. H. C. Hawson) on Tuesday, March 19, 1839. The boat had on board B. Pratt Winter, the surveyor for the association, and Robert Tod (Tod River was named in his honor). The Abeona experienced difficulty in getting into the harbor. First the captain found he was 30 miles north of Boston Bay, but probably this was an advantage, giving the passengers a chance to see that part of the country. They were charmed with the view of the hills and valleys. Contrary winds made the captain steer for Hardwicke Bay, Yorke Peninsula, eventually returning to Boston Bay. Robert Tod, 'the chronicler, said : — 

" We landed on a mountain in front of a beautiful vale, which we named Happy Valley and hoisted the British flag, under a salute from the vessel, unfortunately owing to imprudent management on the part of the gunner one of his eyes was blown out — the other severely wounded, besides the loss of a finger." This date, March 19, 1839, may fairly well be claimed as the birthday of Port Lincoln Town, and should be honored as such. 

Between that date and March 30, tents and various temporary buildings had been erected in Happy Valley. Examination and survey operations were begun, and excursions made into the country, of which details will be given in a future article. Somewhere about March 29 or 30, Mr. W. F. Porter was sworn in as the magistrate for the new district. The ceremony was outlined in a previous article. 

Capt. W. F. Porter had sailed on August 26, 1838, from Liverpool, in the barque Porter (252 tons), of which he was the owner. He also possessed the brig Dorset (99 tons ; Capt. J. Bishop), which sailed the same day. They arrived in South Australia on January 23, 1839. The former boat had 26 passengers and the latter 10. The Dorset was later sold to C. Smith and B. Shaen for use in the Port Adelaide and Port Lincoln traffic. Capt. Porter had just arrived in Adelaide in time to participate in the Port Lincoln settlement, and with a plentiful supply of material for house building and stock, cattle, pigs and garden plants, was in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the proposed new district. 

"PORT LINCOLN UNRIVALLED" 

Mr. C. C. Dutton, of whom we will hear more in the future, arrived at Port Lincoln in the Dorset, and he has given a graphic description of the new town. He was charmed with the place and said that the hills were "sufficiently undulating to allow of houses being built so that all may equally have the advantage of a magnificent view of the harbor and Boston Island. Every parlor window may command a sight of the shipping and the entrance of the harbor." 

A little further on he said, "Upon the ranges behind the town terraced vineyards may and eventually must rise one above the other, while the orange, lemon, olive, fig, pomegranate, banana, quince, and pineapple, will luxuriate in the deep alluvial deposits which are to be found in the valleys." 

Charles Smith (otherwise Percival Wood Smith) under date May 3, 1839, has given his views. Being an interested party, his opinion may be somewhat roseate-tinted, but he said, "I have heard no one who has been at the settlement speaking in any other than terms of unqualified approval of the selection for the site of the town." He speaks highly of the hill slope, quarter of a mile north of Happy Valley, as a beautiful situation for suburban residences, and was so satisfied with the situation that he wrote : — "I am happy to say we shall be able to take in our survey everything that is valuable in Boston Bay — there will be no site or shelter for a rival town." Smith, towards the end of that letter — which, by the way, was written in Adelaide — wrote: — "I have found all I want and as soon as I have no business to tie me to this place, I shall take up my residence there. I will not say more lest it should be considered an undue puffing of our own advantage."

Read the full article at https://sites.google.com/view/early-days-of-eyre-peninsula/port-lincoln-called-emporium-of-state 

The next installment is entitled “Pioneers' Accounts of Port Lincoln Building Activity”