Adelaide's port in the new colony was at first a rather primitive landing place which became known as Port Misery: the early settlers arrived at a muddy swamp, and both passengers and goods were landed unsatisfactorily at the site.

In addition to problems with landing from the ships, for several years prior to the completion of a proper road, newly arrived migrants had to walk the considerable distance to reach the settlement at Adelaide. Migrants with sufficient finances had their goods transported by bullocks, but many carried their possessions or used wheelbarrows for transport.

Schedlich described in his memoirs his disappointment upon landing at Port Adelaide in December 1846:
But speak of Adelaide. O Holy Moses. ...Adelaide was a perfect mudhole... Schedlich continued about the colony: All my grand ideas were vanished...we found a priest-ridden, narrow-minded community. Not a sign of intellect or refinement; the country nearly bankrupt, the only industry was the grand Burra Burra copper mine.

Schedlich, Carl Gustav, 1821-1901