1840
Edward John Eyre commenced overland journey to Western Australia
Total debt chargeable on the revenue of the colony reaches £305,328 2s 7d - 1 May
New Port Adelaide opened by Governor Gawler coinciding with the opening of the new road to the port - 14 October
First wharf named McLaren Wharf for David McLaren, South Australian Company Manager
Municipality of Adelaide was incorporated being the first in Australia (the Council went bankrupt in 1843)
First Council election was held with James Hurtle Fisher elected Mayor - 31 October
Settlement at Noarlunga laid out
2,503 acres cultivated including 1,059 acres of wheat
Total inwards and outwards shipping 425 with tonnage of 83,787
Population estimated at 14,600
Recorded immigration was 2,992 persons
Land sales reached 299,072 acres
Public revenue £30,618 and public expenditure £171,430
1841
Population 15,485 - 1 January (the 1841 census is the only one in South Australia for which any detailed records survive)
The first mine in South Australia, Wheal Gawler at Glen Osmond, commenced producing silver-lead ore - the mineral deposit was discovered by Thomas & Hutchins, two Cornish miners
First Savings Bank established - 6 March
Governor Gawler was recalled
Third Governor of South Australia, George Grey Esq. - 15 May
500,000 acres of land surveyed by mid-year
Edward John Eyre arrives at Albany, Western Australia
Road tolls imposed on carriages and stock at Glen Osmond
Shipment from Cape Town of 57,200 vine cuttings and a “choice variety of fruit trees” - October
Public expenditure cut, resulting in considerable unemployment
Public revenue £25,329 and public expenditure £89,999
Nearly 2,000 destitute persons on government support - December
Government revenue £51,000 and expenditure £180,000
Economic depression leads to the suspension of assisted migration
Immigration was recorded at 776 persons
Adelaide rainfall was 17.96” (456mm) over 93 days
4,721 acres cultivated for wheat, 1,000 acres for barley and 1,000 for oats
1842
Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages commenced - 1 July
Legislative Council constituted
South Australian Board of Colonization Commissioners abolished
Copper discovered at Kapunda by Francis Dutton
Division of part of the colony into counties - Adelaide, Eyre, Flinders, Gawler, Hindmarsh, Light, Stanley, Sturt
Due to the depressed state of the economy, 642 out of 1,915 houses in Adelaide were vacant and 216 were in a state of disrepair - December
Public revenue was £23,404 and public expenditure £68,434
15,281 acres cultivated for wheat
Estimated livestock was 250,000 sheep, 21,000 cattle, 1,000 horses
Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 150 with total tonnage of 25,354
Adelaide rainfall 20.32” (516mm)
1843
Ridley's harvester stripper invented
Flour mill built at Hindmarsh
28,690 acres under cultivation with 23,000 acres of wheat
Livestock estimated at 1,576 horses, 29,000 cattle, 331,000 sheep
Australia's first exports of mineral ore from Glen Osmond
First steam engine in the colony built by Messrs Wyatt
Imports total £109,137, exports £80,858 of which minerals were £127
Public revenue was £24,952 and public expenditure £34,386
Immigration was recorded at 1,213 persons and emigration at 1,477
Shipping (total inwards and outwards) was 104 with total tonnage of 15,533
Adelaide rainfall 17.19” (437mm)
1844
The first Colonial Census was held indicating a population of 17,366, including 96 at Port Lincoln - 26 February
Adelaide's population approximately 10,000
200 German settlers arrived - 18 September
First Roman Catholic Church erected in the colony at Morphett Vale was dedicated - 8 December
Immigration was recorded at 1.114 persons and emigration at 436
Estimates of at least 1,000 persons arriving in the colony from New South Wales during the year
Public revenue was £26,899 and public expenditure £29,362
Shipping (total inwards and outwards) was 139 with total tonnage of 18,489
26,918 acres under cultivation with 18,980 of wheat
South Australia produced wheat in excess of its own requirements
Imports £118,915 and exports £95,272 of which wool was £42,769 and minerals £6,436
Adelaide rainfall 16.88” (429mm)
1845
Copper discovered at Burra
Gold discovered near Montacute
Assisted migration resumed
Immigration was recorded at 2,336 persons and emigration at 449
Charles Sturt's exploration of north-eastern South Australia
Governor of South Australia, Lt-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe - 25 October
Population estimated at 21,759 - 31 December
Public revenue was £32,433 and public expenditure £40,775
Shipping (total inwards and outwards) was 225 with total tonnage of 26,558
Imports were £184,819, exports £148,459 of which £72,235 was wool and minerals £19,020
Livestock includes 26,146 cattle and 480,669 sheep
Adelaide rainfall 18.83” (478mm)
1846
Population at census, 26 February, was 22,390, including 132 at Port Lincoln and 70 on Kangaroo Island. Adelaide's population 13,871.
937 births during year, 360 deaths and 189 marriages.
Immigration recorded was 4,458 persons and emigration 863.
The first pastoral leases granted.
John Horrocks uses Australia's first camel for exploration.
Mining - 6,461 tons of copper ore produced with a value equal to $285,000.
Adelaide rainfall 26.89" (683mm) over 114 days.
Public revenue £47,286, public expenditure £38,690.
Government revenue £47,286 ($95,000), expenditure £38,690 ($77,000).
Imports £330,099 and exports £312,838 of which wool £106,510 and minerals £143,231.
Area under cultivation for agriculture 33,292 acres of which 26,134 acres for wheat.
1847
First winery in the Barossa Valley commenced operations.
St Peter's College established.
Livestock includes 56,375 cattle and 784,811 sheep.
Road tolls at Glen Osmond ceased.
Population estimate 31 December - 31,153.
Immigration recorded was 5,645 persons and emigration 885.
Adelaide rainfall 27.61" (701mm).
Hailstorm in Adelaide with hailstones ranging in size from marbles to pigeon's eggs - 19 July.
First building society in colony established - The Adelaide and Suburban Building Society - 10 February.
Public revenue £66,342, public expenditure £58,879.
Imports £410,825 and exports £350,348 of which wool £56,130 and minerals £174,017.
1848
Savings Bank of South Australia established.
First ferry over the River Murray - at Wellington.
Pulteney Street Church of England Grammar School established.
St Peter's College established.
Governor of South Australia: Sir Henry E F Young - 02 August.
Population estimate 31 December - 38,666.
Immigration was 7,664 persons and emigration 1,042.
Public revenue £82,911, public expenditure £80,129.
Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 412 with total tonnage 90,956.
Imports £384,326 and exports £504,068 of which wool £98,582 and minerals £320,624.
Adelaide rainfall 19.74" (501mm).
Area under cultivation 48,911 acres including 29,737 acres for wheat.
1849
Central Board of Main Roads established.
Population estimate 31 December - 52,904.
Immigration recorded was 16,166 persons and emigration 2,694.
First shipload of Irish orphans arrived - June.
Village of Woodville laid out.
Shipping (total inwards and outwards) 549 with total tonnage 155,920.
Public revenue £108,301, public expenditure £82,637.
Imports £599,548, exports £402,853 including wool £108,539 and minerals £219,775.
Adelaide rainfall 25.44" (646mm).
