Page 22 - 1978 NAB Calendar Early Australian Maritime Life Part Two
P. 22
LANDING OF THE FIRST MAIL — GLENELG, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
OCTOBER
This engraving reproduced from the ‘Australasian Sketcher’ marks an The iettv shown here was one of Glenelcj’s chief attractions until it was
important event in the development of the colony of South Australia. The destroyed in a severe storm in April 1948. Most of the ironwork had been
colony had previously relied on a branch mail steamer running to King shipped from England in 1856, but the jetty was not opened until 1859
George’s Sound in Western Australia to link it with the P. and O. steamers because of problems encountered in driving the piles into the hard rock.
bringing mails from England. This expensive and slow arrangement was The jetty section was 1,250 ft. long, and its promenade was 18 ft. wide.
considered out of keeping with the dignity of the colony, and after many years It was a centre of holiday entertainment in the Victorian era, when
the South Australian government prevailed upon the shipping line to deliver Glenelg’s popularity as a resort was at its height.
the mails direct to Glenelg. The celebration shown here marked the arrival of The cargo from the mail steamers was transferred into small tug boats
the ‘Bangalore’, the first regular steamer carrying mails, on 6 February 1874. which could berth alongside the jetty, then unloaded by crane. The track
The account of a town councillor of the time shows that the arrival of the seen here is part of Glenelg’s first railway, stretching from Victoria
mails continued to be an occasion in Glenelg: “When the mail steamer lights Square, Adelaide, to the jetty. It had been opened the previous year. The
are in sight, rockets are thrown up and blue lights shown from the jetty end, train ran to the beginning of the pier, then made the return journey in
and in the event of arrival by daylight, the company’s flag is hoisted on board reverse as there was no loop.
the hulk, and the rendezvous flag hoisted on the lighthouse flagstaff. These
arrangements continued until 1888 when the Government decided to land Today a modern jetty occupies this position at the end of Jetty Road.
the mails at Larg’s Bay.
Click on link to return to contents page Page 23
Page 22
