Story of Pre-Settlement Period

THE previous articles on the early days of Eyre Peninsula dealt with the discovery of the Peninsula and the survey of its coastline. Before considering the next phase, the pre-settlement days, let us take a glance at the neighboring provinces.

New South Wales was settled as a penal establishment in 1788. In 1803 convicts were sent to Port Phillip, as the Victorian settlement was then known, but within a little more than seven months they were transferred to Tasmania, where there was a small settlement on the Derwent River, which then became a convict settlement, under the jurisdiction of New South Wales until 1825, when it was elevated to the status of a colony.

New South Wales also used Tasmania (or Van Dieman's Land, as it was known), as an island prison for doubly convicted prisoners. Western Australia was settled in a small way at King George's Sound in 1825, in an endeavor to control the lawless element inhabiting the southern coast, but the territory was not annexed to the British Crown until 1829, when another settlement was formed at Swan River.

Some of the sheep and cattle farmers of Tasmania, wanting more room, migrated to Portland and Port Phillip in 1834 and 1835 respectively.

Capt. Barker in 1831 made an examination of the east coast of St. Vincent's Gulf and from there (probably where Yankalilla stands today) travelled overland to the Murray mouth, where he was killed by the natives. Capt. Sturt in 1829-1830 made his memorable trip down the Murray, and with the knowledge he had then gained, together with the information imparted to him by Mr. Kent (of the Commissariat, and a member of Capt. Barker's expedition), and the further knowledge gleaned from the whalers and others was in a position to suggest the settlement of a colony, somewhere on the southern coast of Australia. But these views and suggestions of Sturt must be considered in a future article.

PRE-SETTLEMENT SETTLERS.

With the settlement of the adjacent provinces, and with their whale fisheries — in which whalers from Europe and America participated — as one of the important inducements for trading, it is natural to expect the whalers to voyage along the whole length of the southern coast, looking for whales and seals, and suitable sites for boiling-down works. Flinders' description of Kangaroo Island would also encourage adventurers of all classes to visit it and settle there, and it soon became known as a salt-producing island. Gradually Kangaroo Island became the stepping stone for exploiting Port Lincoln and its neighboring islands.

We are indebted to a committee, in England, formed in connection with the colonisation of South Australia, for preserving some of the views and doings of these early adventurers. When the South Australian Association was formed in 1834, they accepted the evidence previously collected, and used it in their propaganda. Had the committee not taken its evidence, it is doubtful whether the whalers, of their own volition, would have left us any record of their doings.

No doubt there must have been many more visits to these shores, than those dealt with in these articles and on which history is silent. Most of the information in the earlier part of this series deals principally with the suitability of the land — known subsequently as South Australia— for receiving settlers but at the same time other facts are brought to light.

About the earliest account of what must refer to Port Lincoln after its discovery by Flinders and its rediscovery by Baudin's expedition, was in 1810. We learn from the Sydney "Gazette," that a fine harbor, equal to that of Port Jackson, had been discovered by the people on board the Endeavour. This harbor was situated about 70 miles north-west of Kangaroo Island. Peron's book had been published two years before that date. Flinders was still engaged on his big work, so doubtless many of the people of New South Wales, were not aware of the discoveries by these two expeditions.

"NATIVES TIMID"

The newspaper account is interesting, more especially that relating to the natives. The following is a synopsis of the article : — The natives were said to be numerous and rather timid, none ever approaching the Europeans. Emus and kangaroos were also plentiful. The country was thickly wooded. The head of the harbor was constantly watered by a large river not less than 6ft. deep, which appeared to derive its source from a neighboring marsh. The people of the Endeavour had been forced to quit their island home to procure water from the mainland. Unexpectedly they entered in between the headlands and found the inner harbor, up which they went about 15 miles. The Endeavour returned to Sydney with a cargo of salt. The description of the natives coincides with that expressed by Flinders, but a vastly different one to that applied to the natives by the settlers some 30 years later. In studying the history of Eyre Peninsula, we must always bear in mind the views expressed by these early visitors. It is a mystery about the river 6ft, deep at the head of the gulf.

CAPT. PETER DILLON

Five years later (December, 1815), Capt. Peter Dillon, who subsequently had the honor Le Chevalier, conferred on him, made a trip to Kangaroo Island in the brig Spring, remaining in the locality from December 23, 1815, to the middle of March, 1816. While in the vicinity he went to Thistle Island, anchoring north-west of the island, and remaining there for three days. He stated that the grass and undergrowth were abundant, and that he killed several wallabies.

From Thistle Island, Capt. Dillon went to Port Lincoln, and landed at the head of the port. He found Flinders' wells, but did not find any water there in February. The wells were cleaned out and fresh ones dug, with a result that not more than half a cask of muddy, water was procured. He remained there for two days. The timber he saw was large and plentiful. The hills were covered with trees, and he considered the land to be very fertile and productive.

CAPT. GOOLD'S VISIT

Twelve years elapsed before we get another account of Port Lincoln. Capt. Goold, former master of the H.M.S. Dryad, made a voyage in 1827 and 1828, first in the Snapper and then in the Jackass, from Sydney. The object of the voyages was to investigate the possibilities of the site as a seal fishery. He corroborates the opinions expressed by Peron and Freycinet, of the Baudin expedition, with regard to Boston Bay. Capt. Goold anchored in that bay, between the island and the mainland, and remained there for 22 days. He made a trip inland for about three miles, where be found himself among open forest country. The trees were large, and well grown. He mis-called the trees by various names, probably because they resembled trees he knew in other parts of the world.

But the most important discovery was that made by the crew of his ship, when they found, just westward of Point Boston, a spring of fresh water, which proved sufficient for his requirements. The spring was below high water mark, and although the water was hard, it was very palatable. Goold arrived in Boston Bay on Christmas Day, 1827. He found plenty, of grass, but it was dead.

In August 1828 a second trip was made to Boston Bay by Capt. Goold. On this occasion he encountered a typhoon — as he called it — while at anchor, the gale blowing from the south and west, lasting for about four hours, but so good were the surroundings, the gale had no effect on his ship. Goold had considerable experience in Australia, and he considered the land at Boston Bay was superior to the land at Swan River, King George's Sound or Port Jackson and equal to that at Hunter River. As to Port Lincoln, he declared that " the harbor, soil, climate, position for commerce, and vicinity to excellent fishing grounds renders the formation of a colony there, in my opinion, highly desirable."