Henry Hawson of Port Lincoln.

Captain Hawson was instrumental in the laying out of Port Lincoln and the surrounding area. Hawson's father Henry Hawson, originally of St. Saviour's, in Dartmouth, Devonshire, England married Elizabeth Emlyn Cowell, of Torr. Captain Hawson was the eldest son of their 13 children.

According to Kenyon in 'The Story of South Australia: Its Discoverers and Founders', the Hawson family was the most historic on the Eyre Peninsula. Captain Cowell Hawson and family finally arrived at Port Lincoln in 1839 on the schooner Abeona, firstly via Sydney, New South Wales and then arriving at Port Adelaide in 1837. The Abeona carried with her, a large cargo of cedar wood which was used in the construction of their first home at Kirton Point, where they took up 6000 hectares including his 'Polda' station, Little Swamp, and the 'Towalla' homestead withing the site of Port Lincoln, where he also acted as Harbor and Port Master. The Aboena was eventually sold but soon wrecked on King's Island in Bass Straight.

The Pastoral Pioneers of South Australia publication (Vol II., p. 153), refers to the captain in 1839, leading an expedition, naming several fresh water rivers and creeks like the Mississipi River and Rossiter Vale, along the way. He explored the region of Port Lincoln, discovering Mount Dutton, and the Hawson Range (Marble Range) penetrating as far as Coffin Bay. He was involved with Robert Tod's expedition which named the Tod River, Mount Gawler, Happy Valley and Cowan Vale. He also accompanied and contributed financially to, Darke's expedition of 1844. Hawson put his name to the establishment at Boston Bay and was one of the two original trustees of the Port Lincoln Survey Association. The trail blazed by Hawson was followed by his descendant for generations, many of whom occupied the homestead 'Towalla'.

The Captain married Frances Maria Brodribb (1822-1911) in Tasmania 1840. They had six children, one of whom, son Francis Tapley Hawson (aged 10), was reportedly the first white victim of a murder by spearing, committed by an Aboriginal person in that area 5 October 1840. A memorial was erected to his memory.

Hawson, Henry Cowell, 1814-1882

Abeona (ship)

Account of the death of Henry Hawson South Australian register 8 August 1849 p. 3, col. e

Kenyon, A. S. The story of Australia : its discoverers and founders Geelong, Vic. : Geo. A. List for the Corio Press, [1937?], p.100

Cockburn, R Pastoral pioneers of South Australia 2 v. (207; 263 p.) Adelaide : Publishers Limited, 1925-1927 ("Reprinted from the Adelaide Stock and Station Journal."), Vol II., p. 153

Port Lincoln South Australian gazette and colonial register, 20 April 1839, p. 2, col. b-d; p. 3, col. a

Account of the death of Henry Hawson South Australian register, 8 August 1849, p. 3, col. e

Loyau, G E The representative men of South Australia Adelaide : George Howell, 1883

Peake, A Sources for South Australian History Dulwich, S. Aust. : Tudor Australia Press, 1987