Introduction: The Search for a New Colonial Model
By 1835, two methods of establishing European civilization in Australia had proven deeply flawed. The convict system in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land had fostered moral decay, while Western Australia’s land grants to wealthy settlers led to economic stagnation. The challenge was clear: how to transplant civilization without slavery or regression into barbarism. The answer emerged through a radical vision—systematic colonization—championed by Edward Gibbon Wakefield and his followers. This article explores the origins, struggles, and legacy of South Australia’s founding as a unique colonial experiment.
The Vision of Systematic Colonization
### Wakefield’s Radical Proposal
In August 1829, the Morning Chronicle in London published a series of anonymous letters titled A Letter from Sydney. The author—later revealed as Edward Gibbon Wakefield—argued that colonies failed due to either unchecked land dispersion or reliance on slave labor. His solution was simple yet revolutionary:
– Sell colonial land at a “sufficient price” to balance labor supply and investment.
– Use land sale revenues to fund migration of balanced genders, ending the male-dominated frontier.
– Abolish convict transportation and introduce free institutions.
Wakefield’s ideas, compiled into a pamphlet by Robert Gouger, emphasized order and prosperity through controlled settlement. His vision attracted both praise and skepticism, with Karl Marx later calling him the era’s “most noted political economist.”
### The South Australian Association
By 1833, Wakefield’s supporters formed the South Australian Association, advocating for a colony where “comforts of an old country” merged with new opportunities. Their proposal included:
– Fixed land prices (minimum 12 shillings per acre).
– Migration funded by land sales.
– A board of trustees to oversee colonization.
Despite opposition from Colonial Office figures like James Stephen, who dismissed Wakefield as “coarse and sinister,” the South Australia Act of 1834 was passed, authorizing the colony’s creation.
Founding Adelaide: Ideals vs. Reality
### The First Settlers
In 1836, colonists arrived at Kangaroo Island and later Holdfast Bay, where Governor John Hindmarsh proclaimed South Australia on December 28. The ceremony, beneath a towering gum tree, was marked by optimism—and irony. Hindmarsh toasted “unanimity,” yet factional strife soon erupted.
### Clash of Authorities
The colony’s governance was split between:
– Governor Hindmarsh, a Tory naval officer.
– Resident Commissioner James Fisher, a legalist.
– Surveyor-General William Light, who designed Adelaide’s grid layout.
Disputes over land, religion, and power led to Hindmarsh’s recall in 1838, exposing the fragility of the “systematic” model.
Conflict with the Ngarrindjeri People
### Early Encounters
Initial interactions with the Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna peoples were cautiously hopeful. The colonists pledged to protect Indigenous rights, but cultural divides widened rapidly.
– Misunderstandings: Aboriginal corroborees, initially seen as exotic, became sources of irritation.
– Land Dispossession: Despite promises, traditional lands were seized for farming.
– Violence: By 1837, retaliatory attacks began as Indigenous resistance grew.
A Ngarrindjeri woman’s retort—”You go to England, that your country; this our country”—encapsulated the rising tensions.
Economic Struggles and Overlanding
### Labor Shortages
Wakefield’s “sufficient price” policy failed to prevent labor shortages. Workers, lured by land, abandoned employers, destabilizing the economy.
### The Overlanders’ Impact
In 1838, Joseph Hawdon and Edward John Eyre drove cattle from New South Wales, introducing pastoralism—a system Wakefield had hoped to avoid. Their success signaled the colony’s pragmatic shift away from idealism.
Legacy: A Flawed Utopia
### Achievements
– Adelaide’s Design: Light’s planned city remains a model of urban foresight.
– Free Settlement: South Australia avoided convict labor, fostering a distinct identity.
### Failures
– Indigenous Displacement: The humanitarian vision gave way to dispossession.
– Factionalism: Political infighting undermined governance.
### Modern Relevance
South Australia’s founding reflects enduring tensions between idealism and pragmatism in nation-building. Its story is a cautionary tale of how even the best-intentioned systems can falter against human nature and entrenched power.
Conclusion
The birth of South Australia was a bold experiment—a bid to create a “civilized” colony free from Old World vices. Yet, as Wakefield himself might have grudgingly admitted, no system could fully tame the wilderness—or human ambition. The colony’s struggles and adaptations reveal the messy reality behind grand colonial visions, leaving a legacy that still resonates today.