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EDWARD JOHN EYRE.
11.1.SETTLEMENT OF ADELAIDE AND THE OVERLANDERS.
The exploration of the centre of the continent was long retarded by the difficult nature of the country -- by its aridity, its few continuously-watered rivers, and the supposed horse-shoe shape of Lake Torrens, which thrust its vast shallow morass across the path of the daring explorers making north.
For most of us of the present day, to whom Lake Torrens is but a geographical feature, it is hard to imagine the sense of awe it inspired in the breasts of the South Australian settlers, who appeared to be cut off completely from the north by its gloomy and forbidding environs of salt and barrenness.
In 1836, Colonel Light surveyed the shores of St.Vincent's Gulf, and selected the site of the city of Adelaide.

Governor Hindmarsh and a company of emigrants arrived soon afterwards, and the Province of South Australia was proclaimed.
The very promising discoveries made to the south of the Murray by Major Mitchell soon induced an invasion of adventurous pastoralists bringing their stock from the settled parts of New South Wales.
Charles Bonney led the way across to the Port Phillip settlement in 1837 with sheep.

G.H.Ebden accompanied him, and they were shortly followed by many more: Hamilton, Gardiner, Langbourne, and others, whose names are well-known in Australian history as the first Overlanders.

Very shortly this overlanding of stock was extended to the newly-founded city of Adelaide, Charles Bonney and Joseph Hawdon being the first drovers on this long journey.