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Light continues down the coast
Title : Light continues down the coast Light continues down the coast
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Creator : Light, William, 1786-1839
Source : A brief journal of the proceedings of William Light ..., p. 11
Place Of Creation : Adelaide
Publisher : A. Macdougall
Date of creation : 1839
Format : Book
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
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Description :

After exploring the inlet, disappointed that it did not tally with Jones's description, William Light continued down the coast, still hoping to find the harbour Jones had described. He was pleased with the extent of the plains to the north of the Mount Lofty Ranges; this would influence his decision in the weeks ahead. On 1 October he saw the mouth of a small river, and the appearance of good country behind it. Before Light and his party could land to explore it, a storm blew up, and the Rapid rode it out some distance offshore. Finally Light and his men landed to explore the area.

Matthew Flinders had discovered this coast in 1802 in a running survey, but had not noted any of the rivers and inlets that Light was now finding. This was one of Light's difficulties, that he was expected to examine 1500 miles of coastline to find the best site for the main town. The coastline had only been discovered as recently as 1802, and since then only sealers and whalers had been on the coast, and Charles Sturt on the River Murray, and Collet Barker on the coast again in 1831 looking for an alternative mouth for that river. Light had to examine the coast in detail, to locate his site, and at the same time had to cope with a lot of stormy weather that impeded his task.
Subjects
Related names :

Light, William, 1786-1839

Jones, John, fl. 1820-1833

Rapid (Ship)

Coverage year : 1836
Region : Adelaide metropolitan area
Further reading :

Light, William, William Light's brief journal and Australian diaries Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 1984

Johnson, Donald Leslie, The Adelaide city plan: fiction and fact Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 1986

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

Mayo, M. P. The life and letters of Col. William Light Adelaide: F.W. Preece & Sons, 1937

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