Port Augusta (Watercolour)

View at Port Augusta with a rowing dinghy in the foreground and a larger vessel tied up at the wharf in the background. Painted 3 May 1909.

Thomas Wood was born in England in 1854 and chose a career in the Church of England. He was curate of St Paul's, Blackburn, from 1878 to 1880. From 1880 to 1883 he was Railway Chaplain at Podanur, Madras, in India then travelled to South Australia where he became the incumbent at Robe (1884-1887). Wood was rector of Wallaroo (1887-1902) and at Willunga (1902-1921). He lived in retirement at Walkerville, and died on 12 November 1937, aged 83. Wood's record group in the State Library's collection features scenes of Hahndorf, Port Augusta, Salt Creek near Port Lincoln, Port Lincoln, Calicalinga (Carrickalinga), Mount Barker, Wallaroo, Willunga and Noarlunga.

As the nearest town and port to the Outback of South Australia, Port Augusta played an integral role in the development of the colony's northern region. Besides being an outlet for the wool clip and later the wheat harvest from the adjacent regions, it was also the port to which the supplies for the building of the Overland Telegraph Line and later the northern railway were delivered. Once built the railways became the main reason for the port's continued existence as the coal needed by the trains was imported through Port Augusta. The town's supplies continued to come in by sea until it became easier to use road transport.

Port Augusta was officially closed as a port in 1974. It continues as the gateway to the Outback with road and rail links through the town.

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