CAB7-1 — Page 123

Page 123

Page 123

Spencer's Gulf.

St. Vincent's Gulf.

Adelaide, Port Adelaide, and Glenelg.

Other places on shore of St. Vin- cent's Gulf.

Railways termi- nating in St. Vin- cent's Gulf.

Places on shore of

Spencer's Gulf, and railways connected therewit...

138

Spencer's Gulf is to the westward of the other, and extends for some 200 miles in about a N.N.E. direction. The entrance is about 40 miles broad, and, except where it is obstructed by the Gainbier Islands, which are in the middle of the passage, is open to the Southern Ocean.

St. Vincent's Gulf, which is separated from Spencer's Gulf by the Yorke Peninsula, a promontory about 100 miles long and averaging about 25 broad, extends in a northerly direction for about 100 miles. It is covered to the southward by Kangaroo Island, which forms a natural breakwater to the Gulf, measuring about 90 miles in length and averaging about 20 in breadth. The approach to the Gulf from the westward is in a nearly easterly direction, by Investigator Strait, about 50 miles long and 25 broad, between the Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The approach from the eastward is by the Backstairs Passage, about 7 miles broad, between Kangaroo Island and the southern point of the Gulf at Cape Jervis. For the navigation of the western passage there is a light- house at Cape Borda, the north-west point of Kangaroo Island, and another is being constructed on the Althorpe Islands, off the Yorke Peninsula. There are two lighthouses also for the navigation of the Backstairs Passage-one at Cape Willoughby, the eastern point of Kangaroo Island, the other at Cape Jervis.

Five miles, in a direct line, to the eastward of a point about the centre of the eastern shore of St. Vincent's Gulf, is the city of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and the seat of Government. About seven miles to the north-west of the city is Port Adelaide, situated about nine miles from the entrance of a navigable inlet running for the most part parallel with the shore, from which it is separated only by a low flat peninsula called Lefevre's Peninsula, about seven miles long and one wide. Ships of large size can navigate the inlet, and dredging operations are in progress which will ultimately enable vessels of twenty-five feet draught to come up to Port Adelaide. There is a railway between the port and the city, and there is likewise a railway-a private undertaking about six miles long, from the city to Glenelg, a considerable watering-place on the coast, nine miles to the southward of Port Adelaide. To the westward of the port, and about a mile from it, at a place on the shore named "The Semaphore," is a long wooden pier which affords communication from the outer anchorage without going up the inlet; there is also a pier at Glenelg, at which place the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamers now land and receive their mails.

To the southward, between Glenelg and Cape Jervis, are Brighton (population under 600) Ports Noarlunga and Willunga (total population under 100); Myponga, Norman- ville, and Rapid Bay (population about 250, 120, and 530 respectively). There are jetties at these three places, but the landing is generally bad, owing to exposure to the sea coming up Investigator Strait. On the western side of the Gulf are jetties at Clinton, Ardrossan, Stansbury, and Edithburgh-small places, each with a population of about 100, and outlets for the produce of the country in their neigh- bourhood.

At the head of the Gulf is Port Wakefield (population about 400), situated on a small creek, where some deepening operations are going on, and the terminus of a railway, 42 miles in length, communicating with the interior by Balaclava and Blyth Plains.

As regards other railways, not yet mentioned, in connection with the Shores of St. Vincent's Gulf, 201 miles have either been constructed, or are in progress, con- necting Adelaide with the country to the northward of the capital, with the copper mines at the Burra, and with the Murray River at the North-west Bend. A junction about 22 miles long is also about to be undertaken, connecting the Port Wakefield line at Balaclava with the Adelaide railways at Hamley, a place about 40 miles north of the capital.

With respect to places on the shores of Spencer's Gulf, the first to be noticed is Port Augusta. For about fifteen or twenty iniles to the north of the point which may be said to be the head of the Gulf there is a channel affording access for vessels of large size to this place, which is to be the terminus of a railway, about 200 miles in length, about to be constructed in a nearly northerly direction, to facilitate the transport of stock and produce from the interior. Port Augusta, though at present but a small place, with under 600 inhabitants, is probably destined to become an important town. About 50 miles to the southward of Port Augusta, and about three miles up a narrow channel, on the eastern shore of Spencer's Gulf, is Port Pirie, a thriving place of about 1,000 inhabitants, and one which will also probably become of great importance. The channel to it is being greatly improved by dredging, and a railway has already been constructed between it and Gladstone, a town at a distance of about 32 miles to the eastward. This railway is about to be extended to James Town, about 20 miles further in the interior. The country in

Page 123

Page 123

Մ

W

OF AIP H

ti

T

I

fr

EPESI 8

m

W

la

bc

ca

Page 123