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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-25 Daily Xml
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SETTLEMENT CELEBRATIONS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (12:07): I consider it a great honour to move:

That this house urges the state government to ensure preparation and funding for the state's 175th birthday celebrations during 2011 occur and further recognises—

(a) Aboriginal occupation of South Australia has existed for many thousands of years;

(b) European habitation in South Australia occurred early in the 19th century;

(c) Kangaroo Island as the first South Australian Company settlement in the province of South Australia on 27 July 1836; and

(d) the inauguration of government at Glenelg, as proclaimed on 28 December 1836.

I will not foreshadow an amendment, as I think the comments that I am about to make should cover the matter. I encourage all members of the house to support this motion. Members would be aware that we will celebrate the 175th birthday of South Australia during 2011.

Whilst this motion urges the government to ensure preparation and funding are made available and are underway for the purposes of our celebrations, I acknowledge and appreciate that the government has made an announcement since notice of this motion was given; that is, in 2011 there will be a month-long history festival. So, instead of the usual week of History Week in May next year, we will have a month, and the state government has allocated $175,000 to assist with that.

Some $50,000-odd is already available for people to apply for small grants to help with local celebrations, but this will help. The government has also announced that it intends to have a major colonial art exhibition in the Art Gallery and an exhibition in the Migration Museum. These are all important things, and I acknowledge the government's commitment in that regard.

I am also aware that the Premier has committed to convene a meeting of cabinet in July 2011 on Kangaroo Island in recognition of the celebration, part of which I am about to refer to today. That is to be acknowledged. Obviously, we would have liked a bit more money for the celebrations—this is a very important occasion for the state—as we did for the 150th birthday, but, in any event, that is where we are at.

In relation to the preparations generally, I, and I am sure other members on this side of the house, would welcome any other initiatives that the government might wish to announce, either the Premier or the minister, to support any activity across the state, in our electorates perhaps, to facilitate those celebrations.

I move now to the recognition of, firstly, the Aboriginal occupation of South Australia for many thousands of years. These recognitions are almost exactly the same as those recorded at the passing of a very similar resolution which recognised the occupation in this manner. That resolution was passed in the Legislative Council. It was moved by the Hon. Ian Gilfillan MLC and amended by a member of both the Liberal Party and the Labor Party: the Hon. Jamie Irwin and the Hon. Anne Levy, respectively.

This took place a number of years ago, and one of the reasons I have replicated the wording is because much effort was put into that resolution when it was dealt with in another chamber and I am hoping that, by replicating the wording, all members will be persuaded to support this motion and speak with pride as South Australia approaches its 175th birthday.

Firstly, I recognise the Aboriginal occupation of South Australia for many thousands of years. It is fair to say that the South Australian colony established under a British act of parliament was not to be a convict colony but, in fact, a place of freedom and opportunity for prosperity for all, one which recognised the Indigenous inhabitants of South Australia and that our attitude as white settlers towards the Aboriginal community has not always been a pretty piece of history.

One thing that I think we need to recognise is the death of a very large number of the Kaurna people on the Adelaide Plains arising out of influenza and small pox, which are white man's diseases. In the Burnside area of South Australia, which I represent, I think only 800 Indigenous people were left after significant plagues of these diseases.

In another way, but at a different level, when people read of the capture and conquest and, in some circumstances, the unconscionable slaughter of members of the Ngarrindjeri tribe, who are, I think, colloquially known as the 'keepers of the Coorong', those also are not very nice aspects of the history of our relations with the Indigenous community that has occupied South Australia.

I place on the record my appreciation to all of the communities who were here before white settlement, occupying South Australia for thousands of years, on the good way in which they managed and protected the territory within South Australia's borders before our settlement.

The European habitation of South Australia from early in the 19th century is to appreciate that from about 1801 to 1802 we had regular visitors, American whalers and other fishermen, and people who were exploring our waters, sometimes en route to other places, such as Tasmania, and that those settlements occurred during that time. I think it is important to recognise that in our history.

Kangaroo Island, as the first South Australian Company settlement in the Province of South Australia on 27 July 1836, is personally one on which I feel very proud to speak. My granddaughter, Adelaide Grace, and those who are to follow—there is another one on the way, I am told—is an eighth generation South Australian. She, of course, carries the heritage from the first settlement on Kangaroo Island via the Calnan family, and later, the Chapmans who arrived in July 1836.

I am a proud member and patron of the Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association. Wherever I can, I promote the importance of the history—not just the political history of our state, but of settlement and the pioneers who have made our state great.

Similarly it is important, I think, for all of us to recognise the inauguration of government at Glenelg, as proclaimed on 28 December 1836. South Australia pioneered in many things. Our form of government was carefully prepared when the South Australia Company settlement discussions were underway in England, preceding the settlement in South Australia and the courageous travel of many to South Australia after that act had been passed.

These are many, but I will just mention a few, as I think it is important that we recognise them with government. This colony was founded on a freedom of speech, a freedom of association, a freedom for people to apply for office, the opportunity to have accessibility to education and certainly a freedom of religion which brought a number of waves of settlement to this state which it is important to acknowledge in our history.

In 1840, we were the first place in Australia to convene democratically held elections by a secret ballot for what was the predecessor to the Adelaide City Council. They were followed in later years in other areas across the country. I think we should be proud of the fact that, in 1857, our Constitution had been drawn up and passed and the first parliament had been sworn in and sat.

It is interesting to read about this. If members have not, then I urge them to go to the rare books collection in our library where these can be viewed. There are interesting topics such as the responsibility between states to make sure that there were no dead trees and branches through the River Murray so that we could have a good system of transport, and that was its value in those days, way before we ever understood the significance of the water provision for the state. These are all important aspects to recognise.

Women got the vote in 1894 in this parliament—the second place in the world. This parliament was the first place in the world though, where women had the opportunity to stand for parliament. It did take 65 years before Mrs Joyce Steele, who is represented here in a portrait, became the first female member of this house, together with Dr Jessie Cooper, who became a member of the Legislative Council in 1959. It has been a pioneering state with the development of democratic government, something of which I think we should be extremely proud.

Equally, I wish to conclude my remarks with some recognition of the territory that we represent. Certainly, it is a large portion of desert, but it has been very productive, with a very significant agrarian and mining history that I would like to recognise today. This has been enhanced with the development and maturity of areas such as the fishing industry. We have participated in great feats in this state with our colleagues next door. For example, the building of the longest dog fence in the world, I think, is just one small feat, not to mention the infrastructure that we have developed in this state, that was born and prospered under a free and elected governance.

I wish to say that I personally am disappointed that, in the formation of South Australia, we did not immediately acquire the Northern Territory. England did give us the opportunity to have responsibility for it and it was passed to us as our responsibility. Sadly, in 1907, it was decided by the South Australian parliament that they would hand that over to the commonwealth. It was to be an exchange for a railway, which successive prime ministers refused to do anything about, before John Howard finally put the money on the table for it to happen, 85 years later.

We did agree to transfer that region from our province of responsibility after Federation, and this year is the 100th anniversary since the commonwealth received it in 1910. I think that was a sad day, and the sooner South Australia has the opportunity to negotiate its return the better. I wish the Northern Territory well in their aspiration to become a state. It has been a difficult road for them. They may have some more hurdles to overcome, even internally, but when they do and they achieve that (and I hope it is in my lifetime) I think we should join together and become a significant state.

Some people ask me when I go on about this about what we might call ourselves. That is obviously a matter for the people to decide but, if I had my way, we would be calling it 'Australia' and make all the other states simply hang off us. I ask all members to take the opportunity to reflect and remember, even if they do not speak on this motion—I would certainly welcome their support—so that we in this chamber (as the Legislative Council has previously) recognise this important event for South Australia and, in particular, those in our community who have made a splendid contribution in different ways, together with all who have been welcomed into the state since and have made an outstanding contribution to our state, pioneering in all sorts of areas of activity for the betterment of us all.

Mr GOLDSWORTHY (Kavel) (12:21): I am pleased to speak in support of the motion that the member for Bragg has brought to the house. I will pick up on a couple of remarks that the member has made in the contribution she has so eloquently delivered in the house, and that is in relation to the splendid contribution that many people have brought to South Australia.

It is obviously very important that we do prepare and celebrate the 175th anniversary of the state's establishment in 2011. We all recognise that the state has a very rich, deep and proud history, I just want to touch on for a few minutes the contribution and the development that we have seen as a consequence of one particular person's arrival to South Australia, and I speak specifically in relation to Pastor Kavel.

I have always regarded it as an honour to represent an electorate named in honour of Pastor Kavel, who was the very first Lutheran pastor to arrive here to the shores of South Australia in December 1838. Only some 2½ years after the proclamation of the colony of South Australia, Pastor Kavel arrived on the ship named the Zebra, captained by Captain Hahn. We fully understand the significance of Captain Hahn arriving also in South Australia, with the very well-known and iconic township of Hahndorf named in honour of Captain Hahn.

Hahndorf is actually where the first Lutheran church was established by Pastor Kavel here in South Australia, and in Australia. We have clearly seen the development, expansion and the significant contribution, to the benefit of South Australians, as a consequence of the establishment of the Lutheran Church. Notwithstanding its contribution, obviously other Christian denominations—Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians; all the Christian denominations—have played a significant role, particularly in regard to the stability that we all benefit from within our society in this state and right across the nation.

I hope in the course of the celebrations in 2011 for the 175th anniversary that there is some significance and some recognition given to the role of Pastor Kavel, the very first Lutheran pastor to arrive on our shores. It was my pleasure only a number of weeks ago to be involved in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the church building at the Birdwood Holy Cross Lutheran Church. We had a splendid service and then a photo opportunity and a lunch at the church and the adjoining church hall, just a number of weeks ago. It was an outstanding event, where we celebrated a significant milestone in the history of that particular Lutheran church in South Australia, in the Adelaide Hills.

The church congregation was established, from memory, only 14 years previous to the actual church building being constructed so, if you do your arithmetic, that church congregation was formed only some 10 years after the colony of South Australia was proclaimed. That was as a consequence of the work of Pastor Kavel and the subsequent pastor, Pastor Fritzsche, who came, I think, a year or two after Pastor Kavel arrived here in South Australia. I just want to mention those issues. The Lutheran church obviously plays a significant role in South Australia. It has in the past, it does in the present, and no doubt it will in the future.

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:26): It gives me great pleasure to support the motion brought here by the member for Bragg. I, too, urge the state government to ensure preparation and funding for the state’s celebration of the 175th birthday which will occur next year does indeed happen.

I rise to add a few words to the debate here, with particular regard to paragraph (b) of the member's motion, in regard to recognition of the European habitation in South Australia that occurred early in the 19th century. That encourages me to make a couple of comments about that occupation, principally that occupation that occurred in the South-East of the state around 175 years ago, when the colony was established here in Adelaide by the South Australian Company.

Members may or may not be aware—and I suspect most of them are unaware—that certainly there were whalers plying their business in the Southern Ocean south of the Australian continent at that time and in the years preceding the establishment of the colony of South Australia. The port and town of Hobart encouraged whalers to come to this particular part of the world. A lot of whalers out of the Americas were operating down here, and obviously they were using parts of the coast of the mainland and parts of that coast that later became part of the colony of South Australia.

There was a whaling station at the northern end of Rivoli Bay, which is where the township of Beachport in my electorate is now situated. Whalers had a camp there, a seasonal camp, where they camped for probably a few months of the year. They brought whales in and cut them up and rendered them down ready to ship back to the northern hemisphere and to the known world at that stage. That was occurring around the 1830s, probably some years before; I do not know that anybody really knows exactly when the first whalers landed on that part of the coast of South Australia.

Certainly, other people were interested in that part of the state. The Henty brothers were originally farmers in England and the family established a business operating in the Launceston area in Tasmania, and then they branched out from there and established Portland in western Victoria. They established a settlement and farming business in the Portland area. In the mid-1830s, the Henty family also established a presence across the border in South Australia.

I am not sure of the exact date. I think there is some conjecture about when they first went to the Mount Gambier area, but certainly the Henty family, their business partners and employees would have been the first people in the Lower South-East as occupiers and farmers, and that would have been around the time, if not just before, the settlement of the colony on the Adelaide Plains.

There were other people, particularly in that part of the state at that time, and I am delighted that the member for Bragg has sought to recognise occupation around that time in other parts of the state, but principally down there. I think that whalers were also operating out of Kangaroo Island—

Ms Chapman: American River.

Mr WILLIAMS: —American River, exactly—at that time as well. I did not hear all the member's contribution, but I am not sure whether there are any firm dates of when they first started operating out of American River or off Kangaroo Island, but it was probably many years before the colony was established. There were certainly people from various parts of the world and probably a significant number of people had visited South Australia and were aware of the potential for a colony in South Australia, certainly on Kangaroo Island and the Lower South-East of the state. With that, I will conclude my remarks and commend the motion to the house.

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (12:32): I cannot let this motion go past without inviting everyone in this place to come to Glenelg on 28 December this year, Proclamation Day, and celebrate the 174th birthday of this state. It is a great time down there—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: What is the Latin term?

Dr McFETRIDGE: The question from the minister for corrections is: what is the Latin term for the 150th? I understand it is the—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: One hundred and seventy-fifth.

Dr McFETRIDGE: I couldn't actually tell you, Tom. You can help me out there, if you like. I know the sesquicentenary is the 150th. The terquasquicentennial—that sounds like some Aboriginal word. That is really quite interesting. How many letters in it? There are quite a few. It is almost 175! It is a very important occasion, and with a word that long to describe it, obviously it is extremely important.

I remind the house that in my electorate of Morphett (named after Sir John Morphett) is the site where the proclamation of this state was read out on 28 December 1836 under the Old Gum Tree, or close to the Old Gum Tree. There is a lot of argument about that as well, just as I am sure we will argue about whether the real birthday of South Australia is 27 July or 28 December. I assure the house that it really is 28 December because that is when the proclamation was read out and the colony formally established.

The 175th anniversary of the proclamation is a very important date for this state. Having read about some of the hardships that our early settlers went through and the things they endured to make this state the great state that it is, we really do need to make sure that we do acknowledge and celebrate what has happened over the last 175 years.

I know my electorate of Morphett has changed dramatically. The home I used to own, Stormont, we had the plans from 1884 for that house. The northern elevation plan showed the line of the sand dunes. It is quite a high house. Both storeys have 15-foot ceilings in the rooms, and you have cellars and attic spaces as well.

The thing that amazed me was where the sand dune line went to, and that was almost to the gutters. The way we have changed this state really hit home when I saw that. We have pushed all the sand back from the sea to fill the swamps. The River Torrens never emptied into the sea: it went into swamps and emptied on Lefevre Peninsula.

The trek from Glenelg to Adelaide was via a goat track. In fact, I should say, it is probably not a whole lot better now—it is a bit of a goat track now—and I urge the Minister for Transport to do something about it, particularly before next year. The tracks that came from Glenelg to where Adelaide now is were really goat tracks and it would have been a pretty rough ride for the early settlers in those days.

That is all in the past now but let us not forget it: let us celebrate it. I support this motion and ask that the government put politics aside and do what all South Australians want, and that is to celebrate this great state we live in.

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (12:36): I move to amend the motion:

to delete: 'urges' and replace with 'notes';

to delete 'government to ensure and' and replace with 'government's';

to delete 'preparation' and replace with 'preparations';

to delete 'occurs'; and

to delete 'recognised' and replace with 'recognises'

The amended motion would thus read:

That this house notes that the state government's preparations and funding for the state's 175th birthday celebrations during 2011 and further recognises—

(a) Aboriginal occupation of South Australia has existed for many thousands of years;

(b) European habitation in South Australia occurred early in the 19th century;

(c) Kangaroo Island as the first South Australian Company settlement in the province of South Australia on 27 July 1836; and

(d) the inauguration of government at Glenelg, as proclaimed on 28 December 1836.

Ms CHAPMAN: I have a point of order, Madam Speaker. I want to seek some clarification. I think the only amendments were in the preamble. I have no objection to the amendment, on the basis that I have acknowledged in the contribution that I have made that the government has made commitments in a number of areas already since this notice was given. So, whilst I would not choose that wording specifically, in the interests of encouraging unanimous support for this motion, I am happy to accept the amendment.

The Hon. S.W. KEY: I acknowledge the member for Bragg's graciousness in accepting those amendments, because I think we are all here to support what might be called (and we had some advice earlier) the terquasqui-centennial. I understand from the Minister for Correctional Services, the member for West Torrens, that there are a number of terms that we may use. It is spelt T-E-R-Q-U-A-S-Q-U-I-C-E-N-T-E-N-N-I-A-L. I think some abbreviation may be in order, but maybe that is just me.

Honourable members have covered a lot of the points that I wish to make, but I think that it is important that we do mark the 175th anniversary of European settlement. I always feel slightly uncomfortable about these celebrations, but I am really pleased that, in all the contributions that have been made, we have acknowledged the first inhabitants of Australia, certainly in South Australia. We also acknowledge that we have archaeological research that indicates that Aboriginal people have been present in the area for at least 40,000 years, possibly longer.

I understand that, in some of the dating of sediments, thermo-luminescent dating from Allen's Cave on the South Australian Nullarbor Plain indicates that Aboriginal people were living about 40,000 years ago, while the rock art at Koonalda Cave (about 50 kilometres east of Allen's Cave) has been radiocarbon dated at about 26,000 years. I think that the Aboriginal people, our Indigenous people, certainly do rate as being our first Australians.

What we are actually celebrating in some people's view is white invasion 175 years ago, but I think that we have moved on from that view. Certainly, some of our elders say that we do not forget the past but we need to move into the future at the same time. As I said, I think that it is important not only to acknowledge our white history but also to acknowledge the people who were here before white settlement.

I am also told that radiocarbon dates from other sites in South Australia include 18,000 BP (before present) from Roonka, near Blanchetown on the lower Murray River and 16,000 years before the present from Seton Cave on Kangaroo Island. The member for Bragg has certainly talked about Kangaroo Island and its significance, and I know that the member for Finniss certainly understands the significance of Kangaroo Island for a whole lot of reasons.

Also, 15,000 before the present years has been carbon dated from the Hawker Lagoon in the Southern Flinders Ranges. Wooden boomerangs, spears and other artefacts preserved in a peat bog at Wyrie Swamp near Millicent have been radiocarbon dated at 10,000 years before present. There is very good data that supports the comments that I am making about our first Australians.

The month-long 2011 History Festival and a host of community commemorations will mark the 175th anniversary of European settlement of our state. Members opposite have graciously acknowledged that the state government has also put funding into these celebrations—some $175,000 of state government funding, and also additional funding of $54,000, has been set aside by government for History SA's 175th Community Grant Program.

It is important that there is a public response to celebrating this important milestone. I guess that it is even more important that people have the opportunity to have some funding to assist with those celebrations. History SA, which is more and more providing an important role in education in South Australia, will be able to expand the annual South Australian History Week into a month-long history festival in which it is expected that over 90,000 South Australians will take part in more than 400 events during May 2011.

The additional funding will also be used to expand the 175th Community Grant Program, which has been met by overwhelming enthusiasm from communities in the state. South Australians, I am pleased to say, are passionate about telling their story and celebrating the role their communities have played in South Australia's diverse, vibrant and multicultural community.

The additional funds that have been set aside mean that more South Australians can get involved. The funding program for projects explores all aspects of South Australian history, including the vital and continuing contribution of Indigenous South Australians.

As well as the History Festival and the government-funded community projects, a range of other activities will reflect important moments in the history of South Australia. These include the establishment of the South Australian Company settlement in Kangaroo Island (already mentioned by the member for Bragg) on 27 July 1836, and then the later arrival (again mentioned by the member for Morphett) of Governor Hindmarsh at Holdfast Bay in December. There are also other events to mark the 175th anniversary of European settlement.

We have also heard about the major colonial art exhibition in the Art Gallery of South Australia, and that is due in late 2011. This exhibition will be curated by Jane Hilton, who has had a long and distinguished history as a curator in South Australia and has recently been appointed to the National Gallery of Australia Council. An exhibition at the Migration Museum will explore population identity and generational changes.

I think it is important to note that applications for the 175th anniversary community grants—I must say that is easier to say than the other term I mentioned—closed on 13 October, and History South Australia is currently considering the applications it has received.

I have mentioned the fact that part of the acknowledgement will be for Aboriginal occupation of South Australia and how that has existed for many thousands of years. There is also a focus on European habitation in South Australia that occurred early in the 19th century and the usual commemoration of landmark events that have happened in South Australia since European settlement. I am very pleased to see what I would describe as a renaissance in history in South Australia, and I think the History Trust helps us with that.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (12:47): I am strongly in favour of the member for Bragg's motion, quite obviously. Unfortunately, I have missed some of the contributions due to other appointments this morning; however, I think this is really important.

My electorate of Finniss is named after the first premier of South Australia, Boyle Travers Finniss, whose daughter is referred to as the first white child born in South Australia. She was born in Kingscote. They then moved to Rapid Bay. The landing at Rapid Bay is well remembered in that area before they moved the capital from Kingscote to Adelaide.

I understand quite clearly that other members in this chamber and in the other place do not have the same affinity with the celebrations for 175 years as the people in my electorate, particularly those on Kangaroo Island. The Advance Kingscote organisation for many years has been urging this, and I have written to the Premier on a couple of occasions seeking to get some finance. It is probably important to note that the Premier and cabinet—whoever the Premier and cabinet may be in July next year; that might be subject to some conjecture—have promised to conduct cabinet at Kangaroo Island on 27 July next year, or around that date, when the 175th celebrations seriously commence.

There is a very active committee working towards that. Both the Pioneers Association in Adelaide and the local branch of the Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association on the island are actively involved. I seriously commend the efforts of the Advance Kingscote group in pushing and pushing for funding and trying to ensure that this goes off very well.

I do not know how many members have ever been to Kangaroo Island, but every year on 27 July there is a ceremony at Flagstaff Hill in Kingscote, just above where the first settlers landed from the Duke of York. Schoolchildren from the Kingscote campus come up in numbers. The Young Achiever of the Year is given an award. The mayor of the day generally makes a few remarks. It is quite a significant occasion which is totally overlooked by the vast majority of South Australians; they are just not aware that it takes place. Everything seems to focus around 28 December, Proclamation Day, when there is pomp and ceremony and all sorts of things, but not many people take an interest on the 27th of July.

I recall former premier John Bannon and some members of cabinet coming to the island, for the 150th anniversary, where there were considerable festivities and celebrations during the course of that year. The first cemetery in the state is in Kingscote. It is interesting to go there and wander around. People take a lot of pride in the history of the place. Quite a number of the first settlers who arrived on the Duke of York and the Signet, etc., did not live for that long: it was a dreadful place.

I do not know what the member for Bragg said, but I urge members on the other side, and my side as well, to go down to that area, what they call the Reeves Point historic site. I am focusing on the island, with no excuses or apology, because that is where it actually started. Of the three houses that were on the hill: Faith, Hope and Charity; Faith and Hope are still there. There is no Charity any more; that has gone. Hope is the national trust museum, with a lot of material from the early settlers.

I recall quite clearly 25 years ago when the Falie, which is languishing at Port Adelaide these days, had been restored to serious status as a sailing ship, with diesel propulsion as well, being actively involved, and a lot of other things. We want next year to be good. The member for Bragg's motion will support that being good. I would like to see the government attempt to commit more money to this, if possible.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Of course you would.

Mr PENGILLY: Of course I would, the minister says. Well, he would probably feel the same way if he was in my shoes: $175,000 for the 175th birthday is one grand a year for nearly two centuries, so it is not a lot to ask.

The South Australian Company, which is referred to, under the direction of Samuel Stevens, is what started the first settlement in the state: they came out and established it. The history is well known that there was little or no water on the island around the Kingscote area, they had to row across the bay and get water from the Chapman property. Beg your pardon?

Mr Goldsworthy interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: Yes. The South Australian Company eventually moved up here. It is a great way to remember (next year) the inauguration of the government of South Australia at Glenelg on 28 December. I look forward to it. Once again, I congratulate the member for Bragg, and I acknowledge the contribution of the member for Ashford just a while ago. It is pleasing that the government will, apparently, support this motion. I think it is a step in the right direction. With those few words, I urge the house to support the motion.

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (12:54): I rise to support this motion, as all others have in the house today. In the few minutes before lunch I would like to encourage the state government to ensure that these birthday celebrations are memorable and exciting. All members have touched on the key points in this motion: the Aboriginal occupation of South Australia that has existed for many thousands of years.

In fact, in my own electorate of Flinders we still have a significant Aboriginal population and presence. Many of them are struggling as a culture in transition but, certainly, the visit of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee during last week, which I was very grateful to join, looked to address some of the issues that are ongoing. Can I just say, though, that many state and federal governments right across Australia have attempted to address these issues, for the most part unsuccessfully. I hope that in the future we are able to make a difference to the Aboriginal situation here in South Australia.

We are talking, in particular, about the year 1836, and the member for West Torrens informs me that it is a dodrans bicentennial, or a dequas bicentennial. Is that right, minister? We will go for two out of four. In fact, there was a visit to the shores of this state in years previous to that, of course. A fellow by the name of van Nuyts bumped into the West Coast of South Australia and made some very early maps of the areas around Streaky Bay and Murat Bay where, of course, the American whalers, who have been referred to already, made camp in those early days and sought out the whales swimming past our southern shores.

Matthew Flinders, in 1802, mapped the shoreline of South Australia. In fact, my electorate has been named after Matthew Flinders and is the only electorate to retain its original name from that first parliament in 1857. He bumped into Nicolas Baudin—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Is that right?

Mr TRELOAR: Yes, I believe so. In 1836, there was a settlement firstly on Kangaroo Island and in Adelaide. Can I just say that I am very fond of history and local history in particular, and what always strikes me is how quickly this colony developed following that first settlement.

Madam Speaker, you may be interested to know I have just finished reading the journal of Ernest Giles, covering his exploration around the north and west of the state. What really strikes me is the endeavour of the early settlers to really discover and learn about the land they were living in and open it up for settlement, which brought along the surveyors.

The surveyors who went out and surveyed the towns, roads, farms, and the railways of this state, are often the unsung heroes of the development of this state. To head out into the scrub with a gang of axemen, a theodolite and a chain measure, and carve out what they did in such a short time, is really to their credit.

I notice we are almost out of time, but I will mention that, in 1839, just three years after the first settlement here in South Australia, there was a settlement at Port Lincoln in the seat of Flinders, followed soon after, up that West Coast towards Streaky Bay and Murat Bay, by the American whalers, followed soon by pastoralists. In the early days, the state's economy was based on agriculture and mining. Once again, the wealth of the nation, the state and the colony was built on primary production.

South Australia has been at the forefront of agricultural and scientific development since those very early days. Before I close, I want to make particular mention of one family who live now in my hometown of Cummins, and that is the Hill family. The first John Hill arrived at Glenelg on the Buffalo in 1836. I guess it is about the eighth John Hill who now resides and farms as a direct descendant of that original John Hill on the Buffalo. They farmed in the Mid North; they farmed inside Wilpena Pound and they finished up farming wheat at Cummins. They still have a presence in this state, and I am sure there are a number of families who can trace their history in this state and this colony back to those very early days.

Amendment carried; motion as amended carried.


[Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00]


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