Bank of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide. Original watercolour by Col. William Light.

To see changes in this building from a sketch dated 1842, see B 4499.

William Light was a soldier, surveyor, linguist, reporter and competent artist. The son of Captain Francis Light and Martinha Rozells, William was born 27 April 1786 in Malaya. In 1812 as a junior staff officer at Wellington's Headquarters he was employed in mapping, reconnaissance and liaison duties. He travelled widely in Europe from 1827 to 1836 and was appointed Surveyor General of South Australia in 1836. This mammoth task was handicapped by pressures of time, dissention, and inadequate and poorly equipped staff. In 1838 Light's trigonometrical survey was replaced by a quicker method. Light resigned and attempts to reinstate him failed. He became the principal partner in Light, Finniss & Co. Rapidly deteriorating health forced him to live as an invalid. He died of tuberculosis in 1839 and is buried in Light Square, Adelaide.

Light, William, 1786-1839

Elder, David Art of William Light Adelaide: Corporation of the City of Adelaide in association with Wakefield Press, 1987

Light, William William Light's brief journal and Australian diaries with an introduction and notes by David Elder. Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 1984

Dutton, Geoffrey Colonel William Light: founder of a city Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press, 1991

Treasures of the State Library Light, William

SA Memory, Foundation of South Australia 1800-1851 Letter to George Jones

SA Memory, Foundation of South Australia 1800-1851 Map of Light's Plan of the city of Adelaide in South Australia

SA Memory, Foundation of South Australia 1800-1851 Mr Beares tents, Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island