Port Lincoln Special Survey

In the history of Eyre Peninsula there are few more interesting events than the survey of the township of Port Lincoln. As the township will in a few years, be celebrating its centenary, this is an appropriate time to look back on its early days.

It is well known that in 1802 Capt. Matthew Flinders saw Port Lincoln from Stamford Hill [see later correction] and a few days afterwards sailed into the port, anchoring at the head of what is now known as Proper Bay, Boston Bay was sighted and named, but not entered.

The French expedition under Capt. Baudin was the next to investigate the harbor, and the historian, Mr. Peron, subsequently gave a very glowing report of the harbor and district. Whalers and sealers visited the place as the years rolled on, and then in 1836 came the settlement of South Australia.

To Col. William Light was delegated the sole right of selecting the "first town." Four possible sites were suggested to him — Port Lincoln, Nepean Bay, Encounter Bay and the East Coast of St. Vincent's Gulf. Port Lincoln, in common with Nepean and Encounter Bays, did not meet with the colonel's approbation, hence Adelaide was placed on the map as the "first town." The Colonisation Commissioners only took upon themselves the duty of laying out the "first town" leaving the secondary towns to private speculators or settlers.

In many instances the settlers took advantage of the regulation whereby they were allowed to demand a special survey, forcing the Commissioners to survey an area of 15,000 acres, in a compact area, in any situation, out of which the claimant for the survey was allowed to take the pick of 4,000 acres in such size blocks as might be desired.

INSPECTION OF COUNTRY

In February, 1839, the South Australian Company, enamored of the glowing reports that had been issued about Port Lincoln, sent its local manager, Mr. David McLaren, across to Port Lincoln in the schooner Victoria to spy out the country and decide the most favorable situation for a special survey. Mr. Flaxman in the Nereus went about the same time with the same end in view. It is not disclosed on whose behalf he made the trip or what his opinions of the country were, but on his return he did not make any application for a survey.

With a population of only a few thousand people, a departure on such an enterprise could not be kept secret, so patriotic citizens, remembering previous incidents whereby the company had deprived settlers of the opportunity of participating in the profits in the laying out of secondary towns, clubbed together and decided that the public should be the party, in the case of Port Lincoln, to benefit.

The Commissioners would not entertain an application for a special survey unless £4,000 were deposited with them. Steps were therefore taken to raise the requisite amount, and this had to be in hard cash, not promises. The prime movers, though sanguine, had still to be prepared in case the public did not follow their lead, hence the pledge on receipt.

Some of the original receipts issued in connection with raising the money are deposited with the Archives Department, and each bears the signatures of two of the following : — Messrs. Charles Smith, Matthew Smith, and John Bentham Neales, who signed on behalf of the trustees. The receipt form requested that the strictest secrecy should be observed about the transaction. The trustees gave a pledge that if the application for the special survey was not lodged by February 27, the money should be refunded.

ORIGINAL LANDHOLDERS

There was no need for the trustees to have taken such precaution, for the patriotism and optimism of the settlers were too great to allow such a collapse. The amount was raised quickly. Without any special examination, but on entirely heresay evidence, Messrs. Chas. Smith and Henry Hawson, as trustees on behalf of the association, lodged on February 27, 1839, a demand for a special survey, quoted the situation as "from the centre of Boston Bay Port Lincoln in any direction," doubtless having in view the main land shore of Boston Bay and Boston Island.

This is a list of the original subscribers to the funds of the association and the area they applied for, as indicated by the certificates issued on February 27, 1839:— Charles Smith, 600 acres [see later correction] ; Henry Hawson, 224 ; Benjamen Shaen, 600 ; William Field Porter, 152 ; Robert Bernard. 104 ; Jonas Moses Phillipson, 192 ; Matthew Smith, 160 ; John Richardson, 80 ; John Forster (or Foster) Clay, 80 ; Henry Austin, 40 ; Edward Gillman, 40 ; William Wyatt, 80 ; John Erving Barnard, 120 ; John Bentham Neales, 80 ; Thomas Wilson, 104 ; Henry Giles, 104 ; Joseph Barnett, 48 ; Abra-ham Fordham, 48 ; John Stuckey, 96; George DeLane, 24; Robert Chemplay, 40 ; Robert Lilliman (spelling varies, sometimes Lillyman and Lilleyman), 24 ; Dinham and Harvey, 24 ; Walker, 24 ; Crawford (probably E. J. P. Crawford), 24 ; Wm. Giles Junr., 24; William Henry Roflason, 80 ; Benjamen Wickham, 96 ; Mitchell (probably H. E. Mitchell), 24 ; Thomas James Shepherd, 96 ; Oliver Philp, 72 ; Samuel Veale, 80 ; John Hindmarsh R.N., 80 ; John Bishop, 48 ; Edward Cowell Hawson, 24 ; M. J. Phillipson, 24 ; W. Williams, 24 ; Charles Feun, 80; Charles Christian Dutton, 24 ; John Knott, 24 ; Henning and Fenden, 64 ; Joseph Kemp, 24.

This made a total of 4,000 acres which at the price of £1 an acre made up the £4,000 required. In making up the amount two 80 acre land orders were tendered representing £160, the balance of £3,840 being in cash. Some of the subscribers applied for more land than they required and almost immediately transfers and sub-division of shares took place.