Pioneers SA Learning Hub

1837 Adelaide – the Street naming Committee decided on the names of the streets, the squares and the river of Adelaide. Most were named after people who made a contribution to the establishment of the colony.

The following websites provides more information about the naming of the streets of Adelaide and North Adelaide.

Street Naming Committee – History Hub

3 June 1837 Adelaide street names gazetted (Celebrating South Australia)

Streets_of_Adelaide_and_Nth_Adelaide.pdf

1838 The first cattle arrived overland from New South wales, with Joseph Hawdon. His diary titled “Journal of a journey from port Phillip to Adelaide is available at the State Library SA at PRG 1001/1 • Find • State Library of South Australia

1840 Road from Adelaide to Port Adelaide opened.

1841 The road to Mount Barker opened. It was called the Great Eastern Road. Between 1841 and 1847 a toll had to be paid to use the road. The old toll house is still located at the bottom of the road where it enters the city.

1846 Horse cabs went to Glenelg

1850 The Gawler railway opened

People travelled in drays, carts, carriages and gigs puled by horses and bullocks. Goats and dogs sometimes pulled small carts. They also rode horses and walked long distances.

From William Ewen’s Letters

Williams Ewens, with his wife Sarah and three children, arrived in South Australia on the ship Prince Regent on the 25^th September 1839. He wrote letters to his family and friends in England.

William was a coach maker. These are extracts from his letters.

1839 “I think my business will be very good here in a little time. Here is a great many of Gigs and small Carriages out here already and no one to repair or do them up.”

April 1840 “I got 100 pounds for my double bodyd pair horse phaeton 65 pounds for ray little phaeton, both second hand carriages mind all ready cash to. Mr Spiller got 50 pounds for his spring cart and harness ready money.”