The Creation of the Torrens : a History of Adelaide's River to 1881
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The Creation of the Torrens: A History of Adelaide's River to 1881 by Sharyn Clarke This is submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in History School of Social Sciences University of Adelaide CONTENTS List of Paintings and Maps Introduction 1 Chapter One: Conceiving the Torrens t4 Chapter Two: Black and White 4t Chapter Three: The Destruction of the Torrens 76 Chapter Four: Meeting the Demand for Progress 105 Chapter Five: The Torrens Lake 130 Conclusion 157 Bilbiography ABSTRACT The River Torrens in Adelaide is a fragile watercourse with variable seasonal flows which was transformed in the nineteenth century into an artificial lake on a European scale. This thesis presents the reasons behind the changes which took place. The creation of the Torrens covers both physical changes and altering conceptions of the river from a society which, on the whole, desired a European river and acted as though the Torrens was one. The period of study ranges from the Kaurna people's life, which adapted around the river they called Karrawirraparri, to the damming of the river in 1881, Being the major river forthe city, the relatively higher population density meant huge environmental pressure, an inability to assess its limits lead to it being heavily polluted and degraded only a decade after white settlement. Distinct stages in the use of the river can be observed and a variety of both positive and negative responses towards it were recorded. By studying the interactions with, and attitudes towards, the River Torrens, and the changes it has undergone, we learn much about the societies that inhabited the river and their values towards a specific and crucial part of the natural environment. Race relations along the central area of the river, its use as a natural resource and issues of public health are examined. It was only after the river ceased to be the major water resource for Adelaide that its final "beautification" took place and its aesthetic and recreational function became primary. DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other teftiary institution ffid, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. I give consent to this copy of my thesis, when deposited in the University Líbrary, being available for loan and photocopylng. Signed: Sharyn Clarke ACKNO\ilLEDGEMENTS Many people have provided assistance during the preparation of this thesis. I would like to thank my initial supervisor, Dr David Close, and my final supervisor, Dr Robert Foster. A range of friends have provided encouragement throughout the extended process of preparing this thesis and I would like to mention John Moran, in particttlar, for his contintlal enthusiasm and belief in its value. I am also grateful to my mother, Margaret Bailey, particularly for her assistance with child-minding. Finally, I would like to thank my partner, Jason Dohse, for his interest, his füendship and his support. LIST OF PAINTINGS A¡ID MAPS Figure 1: Kingston plan of Adelaide, with modifications by Kingston and Light, March 1837. Originally published in the Second Report of the Colonisation Commissioners, London, 1837 Figure 2:The Adelaide Plains, showing creeks debouching upon the Cowandilla Plains, Holmes, J.'W,, and Iversen, M.B., "Hydrology of the Cowandilla Plains, Adelaide, Before 1836" in Twidale, C.R. (et. a1.), Natural History of the Adelaide Region, Adelaide, Royal Society of South Australia, 1976,p.92. Figure 3: "Kaurna Occupation of the Adelaide Plains 1836", from Griffin, T., and McGaskill, M., (eds.), Atlas of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australian Government Printing Division and'Wakefield Press, 1986, p. 36. Figure 4: Map of Adelaide region published in London after August 1837, based on a sketch made by William Light on 7 February 1837, from Johnson, D.L., and Langmeid,D., The Adelaide City Plan, Adelaide, Wakefield Press, 1986,p.29. Figure 5: Martha Berkeley, "The Govemment Hut, Adelaide," D850, c.1839, Painting courtesy of the Art Gallery of South Australia. Figure 6: J. Hitchin, "Adelaide's beginnings - a rough sketch of the town of Adelaide in 1837", from Kerr, C, "A Exelent Coliney", Adelaide, 1978, p.54. Figure 7: J. Hitchin, "Adelaide from North Terrace, 1841," from Stuart, A (ed.), A Miller's Tale. The memoirs of John Dunn of Mt Barker, Kingswood, Waterwheel books, 1991,p.25. Figure 8: Davenpofr, R., "Adelaide from north bank of the River Torrens", c.I843, 0717 , Painting courtesy of the Adelaide Art Gallery of South Australia. Figure 9: Photograph, River Torrens looking southwest towards railway sheds, c. 1860, 82780, Mortlock Llbrary Pictorial Collection. Photograph courtesy of the State Library of South Australia. Figure 10: Nixon, R., "Frome Bridge, River Torrens, 1845", 664G10, Painting courtesy of the Art Gallery of South Australia. Figure 11: Brown, J.E., "Report on a System of Planting the Adelaide Park Lands", Adelaide, 1880, Adelaide City Archives, see Appendix, "sketch shewing (sic) River and Park Scenery''. Figure 12: Brown, J.8., ibid., "Sketch shewing (sic) undulating River Banks" Figure 13: Brown, J .8., ibid., Sketch shewing (sic) Avenues and River Banks" Figure 14: Henn and Co. "River Torrens, Adelaide, 1883", 565G35, Painting courtesy of the Art Gallery of South Australia. "THE CREATION OF THE TORRENS": INTRODUCTION This thesis examines the destruction of the Torrens as a natural river ecology and its re- creation as an artificial one. The natural river was destroyed through the pressures placed on it by a population that needed a river to support social and economic growth. It was destroyed by a society that, most of all, desired a European river and acted towards the Torrens as though it was one. The irony is that a European river - broad and wide, constantly flowing, frametl by sylvan banks and shady trees, was cvcntually created but only after the natural river was ruined and the vital functions it originally served were rendered largely irrelevant. The historical study of rivers is an important one and nineteenth century ideas have in turn influenced our modern perceptions and use of river areas. Water is central to life and to society; and rivers are central to a city. Human settlement has always been shaped by the availability of water, we have built myths around it, used metaphors to describe it and societies have attempted to control it. All these facets of water and its manipulation and appropriation are evident in the history of the central area of the River Torrens in Adelaide' My aim is not just to analyse societies' perceptions and use of the river but to also observe how the river in turn influenced society. I have considered the impact of politics, social structure, technologies and value systems on the river during the period of study. It is a time of immense change for the rler area, ranging from the Kauma people's life, which adapted around the river, to white society's creation of an artificial lake in 1881' The geographical area of my investigation is the region of the Torrens within the city, aî area known in nineteenth century cities as the central riverbanks. The perimeter of the area is that shown as bounding Adelaide in Light and Kingston's plan of the city in 1837, and since recognised as the border between Adelaide and the near suburbs (see Figure 1, p.2). This study is thus specifically concerned with the interaction between the Adelaide community and the river, rather than being a history of the whole of the Torrens River. The distinction is a logical one to make. The central area has been treated as a separate entity since the beginning of white settlement and this has continued. I Z ¿f g I r{crBIAI 'lq8r1 pue uolsSur;¡ ,(q suorlecgpou qlL!\ ¿€8 I epl€lepv Jo ueld s,uols8ur;¡ : 1 ernSrg ' ,'. .'.l'ì , l',.'i'.'l' ,,;. 1':. ì å:r.* .t li n t :.1," . ¡t '., ¿ ¡, ,',r 'L tr. t .,,iijj: ta' a'rll I-) , :, l¡. ¡ ¿, , t, ti ', ,'. ,t I I ..t'l AL- "l l, I ta 1tf,o1o.) r. NåYtll ..' (¡a¡t^fnç * -.il F 416Ft¡,,.t¡. ',r'v4d.¡ rr rÉ.q.q F.,tw rrì r. r¡r.¡ tt ol ..-..t.t t p Fr{tÈ .t..þÍY )¡4 rfr 1r. vt.rv'u.l,lnY H¿noB rl rotyarov¡or.l,rt r¡rJ, ¡r u'¡f In studying the history of the Torrens distinct stages in the use of the river can be observed. For the very early settlers it was primarily a water source, a general natural resource, and a living space, which they initially shared with the Aboriginal people of the area. As the city developed, the industrial function of water and its use for the expulsion of se\¡/age would place an added burden on the river. Water is traditionally life giving; but it can also be life threatening as the settlers found when they polluted the fragile stream, and through the many drownings and floods that occurred. With the city's development the environment was forced to change, it was fîrstly destroyed, and then reconstructed. I have chosen 1881 to conclude my analysis as it rvas at this time that the river was completely transformed into a lake. Although its landscaping would take some time to complete, at this significant point we witness the r.ecreation and transformation of the river into something resembling its present form. The Kaurna, the indigenous inhabitants of the river area, had a complex relationship with it, and we can follow the same examination of values, economic structure and technologies in their life along the river as we can with white society.