Adelaide circa 1850

A lithograph from a drawing by Samuel Calvert (1828-1913) of early settlement in Adelaide looking south-east from a point near Strangways Terrace in North Adelaide. In the foreground Aboriginal people are fishing in the River Torrens (Kaurna name: Karrawirra Parri). Cattle yards can be seen middle right and the Mount Lofty Ranges are visible in the background.

The Torrens rises near Mount Pleasant and flows to the west across the Adelaide Plains. Previously it ran into the Port River, but diverted itself by silting, creating an area of swamp known as the Reedbeds. In the 1930s a channel was made and the river was directed into this, to enter the Gulf St Vincent at Henley Beach South.

From 1848 to 1852, Calvert worked as an illustrator for various Adelaide newspapers including The Mercury and South Australian sporting chronicle, The Illustrated Adelaide Post and The Lantern. The Victorian gold rush prompted his move to Melbourne.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

Buy a high resolution copy.