The creation of the Torrens : a history of Adelaide's river to 1881

179 Pages·2015·12.29 MB·English

by  Sharyn Clarke

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
t4
Chapter One: Conceiving the Torrens
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, .8., ibid., Sketch shewing (sic) Avenues and River Banks"
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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.
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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. The Kauma's beliefs conceming, and
relationship with, the riverine environment contrast with the ideas of those who organised the
settlement of South Australia and with the early settlers' perceptions. Their oôcupation of the
area would also pose a dilemma to white society. The idea of the creation of the Torrens, both
physically and as a concept, plays an important part in my thesis, Dreamings were essential to
the Kaurna interpretation of the river environment and the settlers had ideals which they
would struggle to fulfil.
This analysis is partly concerned with how society reacted to a small creek, which dried up to
a few waterholes in summer, being the central river area in their city and how it came to be
transformed into a lake and parklands area and an object of civic pride. The Torrens is a small
river, a creek really, and its size has always been a cause for concem. One of the early settlers,
upon reaching the river designated as Adelaide's central watersource exclaimed, "That the
Torrens!"l Another settler complained that not only was the Torrens a disgrace, but there was
not a proper river in the whole colony. These were not isolated cases, and the derision was to
continue. Settlers coming from well-watered England did not initially have words to describe
this Australian river which at some times was a chain of small ponds, at others a raging
torrent. The contrast in its seasonal variation was at odds with their previous experiences of
waterways, and its proportions a joke in terms of the size deemed respectable for a city's
river. Importanfly, the meagre dimensions of the river would provide problems in regard to
water supply, pollution and sewerage disposal. The hot, dry climate of Adelaide in summer
I J.C Hawker, Early E*periences in South Australia, E.S.Wigg and Son, Adelaide 1899,p.7
J
would place added pressure on the river. As the city gtew aesthetic concerns and issues of
civic pride would increasingly shape treatment of the Torrens.
The settlement of the Torrens shows the significance of inherited ideas, beliefs and practices.
After the river ceased to be the major water resource for Adelaide its aesthetic function
became primary and it became an object of civic pride rather than shame. There was always a
recreational and aesthetic agenda behind the reservation of the river and its bank, but these did
not come to the fore until later in the course of settlement. The predominant environmental
aesthetic valued European and, more specifically, English landscapes. Those who wanted to
transform the areas were strongly influenced by traditional ideas of what a city's central
riverbanks should look like.
While there were distinct stages of land use along the Torrens, there were also underlying and
persisting issues that can be identified. For example, people's perceptions regarding the
healthiness of the area was an ongoing issue. The Torrens' use for bathing and recreation
oscillates in importance. Points related to gender also occasionally arise in relation to the river
area, From the beginning of settlement, the summer heat was a great concern for settlers, and
heat exhaustion was common. The desire for water's cooling effects in the hot summers of
Adelaide is one that develops in importance. The economic situation of the government and
its ability and desire to maintain control over the area has also impacted significantly upon the
region. A wide range of changing, and at times multiple uses, were imposed upon the river.
These functions placed upon its limited means were often contradictory, the consequence
being that, attimes, none of them were met satisfactorily.
LITERATURE SURVEY AND METHODOLOGY
V/hat are the problems associated with doing a history of a river? In what field do I classify
my study? Environmental History is the sub-discipline of history that posed itself as the
obvious choice. Environmental History emerged in the late 1960s and has glown steadily. It is
defined in The Oxþrd Companion to Australian History as being different to historical
geography, as it has a closer alliance with environmental politics. There is "explicit
engagement with the scientific insights and metaphors of ecology" but also a "determination
to give the non-human world some agency in the historical narrative".2 Environmental history
is also seen more as a humanities discipline than the more scientific historical geography.
2 T.Griffiths, "Environmental History," in Davison, G., (et.al.), Oxford Companion to Australian History, Oxford
University Press, Melbourne, 1998, p.219.
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