The first settlement was established near the River Torrens and the Old Adelaide Gaol. This settlement with scarce provisions was known as ‘Buffalo Row.’ 

“With (Warwick) Langley, one of his first tasks was to build a reed hut for Governor Hindmarsh. His first glimpse of the Aborigines was when he saw them peering curiously at them through the reeds lining the River Torrens.” 

Ten years later, a more permanent residence was built for the Governor also along the River Torrens. Giles Farneham (who would be Robert’s father in law in three years time) and his son thatched the roof with reeds from the Torrens.  This co-incidence could possibly have provided the opportunity for Robert Fox to meet Ruth Farneham (daughter of Giles), as Robert may also have been involved with this build as well.

On arrival in the colony Robert’s trade was listed as woodman, thus his next task was to fell timber at Mount Lofty to fence the square mile of the city of Adelaide. 

Robert and Warwick are thought to have first farmed where Hindley Street is presently located since Warwick was a skilled shepherd. Robert and Warwick’s first purchase of land was 50 acres at Victor Harbour, which they later sold once the city of Adelaide’s location was firmly established.

Robert and Warwick both purchased an acre each at 648 Gilles Street, Adelaide, through Auction on the 28th of May 1837.  Nearby at 188 Gilles Street, the Beresford Arms was built in 1839.  The pub which was popular with bullock drivers and timber cutters, was known as the ‘pub in the scrub.’ 

Warwick purchased 57 acres in the Western sources of the Torrens Country of Adelaide, in the hundred of Talunga, Millsbrook (No. 6195) on the 21st of October 1846, from Frederick Hall Robe Esquire (Lieutenant Governor of South Australia). Almost six years later, on the 21st of July 1852, Robert purchased No. 6195 from Warwick Langley along with an exchange of a section of 648 Gilles Street, Adelaide. 

Ruth Farneham was born on the 1st of July 1831 to Giles Farneham, a Labourer and Caroline nee French, and lived in Dalwood, Devonshire, England.  Ruth was baptized in Dalwood, County of Dorset on the 22nd of July 1832.  She is the eldest of five siblings, Cain, Abel, Mary Ann and Eliza (Abel was born in the colony). Ruth arrived in South Australia with her family aboard ‘David Malcolm,’ whilst age 15. 

The ‘David Malcolm’ was built in 1839 at Moulmein, India (measuring 36m x 8m x 6m, 538 Tonnage).  It departed Plymouth, England on the 13th of October 1846, arriving at Port Adelaide on the 23rd of January 1847 under Captain Jacob William Smith. 

Her grandfather, James French also made the voyage. James fought with Lord Horatio Nelson aboard ‘HMS Victory.’ The Royal Navy defeated the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar, during the Napoléonic wars in 1805 stopping Napoléon Bonaparte and confirming British superiority at sea. He died in his 100th year at Holland’s Creek.