Plate 23: Lower falls of Glen Stuart on the Moriatta (Morialta) Rivulet in the hills near Adelaide. Part of the text accompanying the illustration reads '... in Glen Stuart, which is a rocky and romantic pass between the mountains, the beauty of the scenery is enhanced by several waterfalls; the Moriatta rivulet pours its rock-beaten stream through deep hills and over steep chasms of rock, with precipices rising like walls on either side. During its course through Glen Stuart until it reaches the plains, it has three distinct falls, all of which, after rain, are remarkably fine. The lower fall is represented in the annexed plate, where the swollen stream dashes over a precipice of some seventy feet, descending into a deep pool, from whence if again flows along on its downward mission to the plains. The borders of this stream are in many places choked with the fresh-water tea-tree; the native lilac, and a dwarf species of mimosa are frequent along its banks; a variety of Xantharaea, styled "black-boy" by the settlers, overruns the rocky sides of these hills, usually abounding in the most stony and inaccessible places'.

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 completed 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 recorded landscapes and settlements seen in his travels in the colony in watercolour drawings.

Angas, George French, 1822-1886

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

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

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

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

Pictures Catalogue National Library of Australia

PictureAustralia