Plate 39 from a publication of lithographs by George French Angas entitled, South Australia illustrated, featuring Rapid Bay and including a group of Indigenous people gathered on beach. Angas' original title to the work was 'Rapid Bay with an encampment of Yankalillah blacks'. The terminology used by Angas to descibe the Indigenous people reflects the attitudes and prejudices of the time. The Aboriginal peoples of this area cross over the lands of a few groups including Kaurna and Ramindjeri. Part of the text accompanying the illustration reads;

'... the cliffs descend in many places abruptly to the sea ... This bay is backed by a beautiful valley, surrounded by an ampitheatre of hills, covered with luxuriant kangaroo grass, from which descends a considerable fresh-water stream, running through the valley between high banks, and abounding in fish ... An encampment of the Yankallillah blacks occupies the foreground; this being a favourite camping place with the tribe'

This is one of 60 coloured lithographs found in the 1847 edition of South Australia illustrated by colonial artist George French Angas, together with a descriptive passage for each. The lithograph was created by J.W. Giles from Angas' original painting. The date assigned is assumed to be approximately when the lithographs were created; the original paintings were done in earlier years.

George French Angas (1822-1886), naturalist and painter, was born on 25 April 1822 at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, fourth child and eldest son of George Fife Angas and his wife Rosetta, née French. He sailed for Australia in 1843 in the Augustus, reached Adelaide in January 1844, and remained in South Australia until July when he left for New Zealand. He returned to South Australia in January 1845 and remained for six months. During these visits to South Australia Angas went with William Giles to the area in the vicinity of the mouth of the River Murray, and with Governor (Sir) George Grey to the south-east of the province, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. These journeys Angas recorded in water-colour drawings which were shown in Adelaide in June 1845 in the Legislative Council chamber.

Angas, George French, 1822-1886

Giles, J.W.

Angas, George French South Australia illustrated London : Thomas M'Lean, 1847

Herbert, Oscar J The Herberts : a pioneer family of the Yankalilla district Adelaide : Pioneers' Association of S.A., 1941

Colwell, M and Alan Naylor. Adelaide: an illustrated history, [Joslin, S. Aust.]: McP, 1981

Insights into South Australian history, volume 2: South Australia's German history and heritage, Harmstorf, Ian A. ed, Adelaide: Historical Society of South Australia, 1992-

Kwan, Elizabeth. Living in South Australia: a social history, Netley, S. Aust.: South Australian Government Printer, 1987

Migration Museum. From many places: the history and cultural traditions of South Australian people, Kent Town, S. Aust.: Migration Museum (History Trust of S.A.) in association with Wakefield Press, 1995

Tregenza, John George French Angas, artist, traveller and naturalist, 1822-1886 Adelaide: Art Gallery Board of South Australia, 1982

State Library of South Australia fact sheets online: Aboriginal Australia

Treasures of the State Library of South Australia: South Australia illustrated by George French Angas

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition: Search for George French Angas

Yankalilla, South Australia Wikipedia

Kaurna Indigenous Australian people Wikipedia

Ramindjeri Indigenous Australian people South Australian Museum

Pictures Catalogue National Library of Australia

PictureAustralia