Several survey parties were sent by the South Australian Government to the "Top End" of the Northern Territory during the years 1864–1870, preparatory to founding a settlement. This article describes those attempts and the people involved. It includes lists of all known participants.
Background In 1863, the part of New South Wales to the north of South Australia between the 129th and 138th parallels of longitude East was annexed to South Australia, by letters patent, as the "Northern Territory of South Australia", which was abbreviated to the Northern Territory (6 July 1863).Territorial evolution of Australia – 6 July 1863 The South Australian Government, with the Wakefield plan for colonisation of South Australia as a basis, believed that European settlement of the Northern Territory could be achieved in much the same way: by selling "off the plan" parcels of land to investors, and a great deal of money would go into Government coffers, which would be used for infrastructure, thus attracting further investment. All that was required was another Col. William Light, another George Gawler and a location for the new capital, which from the start was to be named "Palmerston".
Finniss expedition to Adam Bay 1864
The first requirement for such a settlement was a safe harbour, and from previous explorers' experience, one stood out: Adam Bay, into which the Adelaide River flows, a river navigable for a considerable distance, where all kinds of wharfs and berths could be erected. There was little land at the mouth for buildings, but no doubt suitable areas would be found upstream.
Boyle Travers Finniss, a career public servant with some surveying experience, was appointed Government Resident put in charge of a body of some 40 officers and men, and whose task it was to establish a camp at a site of his choosing and mark out some 1000 town sites and a similar number of rural sites.
Finniss was not obliged to settle at Adam Bay; he chose it in preference to Port Darwin or Port Patterson on account of its harbour and the Adelaide River, which is navigable for a great distance inland, ignoring the lack of building materials, the low-lying boggy nature of the country. He chose two settlement sites; Escape Cliffs on the east coast of the bay, and The Narrows, a short distance up the Adelaide River, where there was a good landing for boats, and planned a connecting road of .
No substantial building was ever erected, apart from the Government Resident's house, in front of which he daily drilled his guard, to the delight of the natives, who mimicked their exercises.
No surveying could be done in first dry season due to insufficient manpower; much of the stores never made it under cover, and much manpower was wasted keeping a lookout for marauding Aboriginals. The Protector of Aborigines, Dr. Goldsmith, was refused membership of a party sent to recover stolen property, which turned into a reprisal. Later, after some horses were speared, he was refused inclusion in an armed party led by Finniss's son, when many shots were fired and at least one Aboriginal man was killed.
Morale was low from the start. Only the Government Resident (Finniss) and his few "favourites" refused to admit that the choice of site was a huge mistake. Jealousies developed between various sections of the workforce as to who was getting preferential treatment or having the more odious duties to perform, the Government Resident and Surgeon (Sweet) were seen going off on "jaunts" with "favorites". Jealousies erupted and operations stumbled from crisis to crisis. Many men whose one-year contract was up, left for home aboard Bengal in May 1865, a long trip, as it was to sail via Koepang, also expensive, as they had to pay for their own passage.
The Ellen Lewis arrived on 5 November 1865 with the McKinlay party and Finniss's replacement staff, and left on 1 December with Finniss, who had been recalled to answer various accusations, also his son and 37 others — some being called as witnesses or to answer charges related to the murder of several Aboriginals. Others had resigned, paying their own way back to Adelaide.
Surveyor R. H. Edmunds, and Jeremiah Ryan, John Young, and Edward Tuckwell transferred to McKinlay's party, bringing its numbers to 14. Surveyor Manton, left in charge of the depleted party, reported that it was certain there was no land within a hundred miles worth surveying, and they could do nothing more than protect themselves and their stores from the natives. Manton proved no less tyrannical and arbitrary a leader than Finniss. One group, under William McMinn decided to risk their lives in an open boat, the Forlorn Hope. In October 1866 Government ordered a recall of Manton and his men, along with those remaining of McKinlay's party (another debacle, see below), on the steamer Eagle, Captain Hill, which left 11 January 1867, transhipped to the Rangatira at Sydney, and arrived at Port Adelaide 2 February 1867.
Personnel Name Job/position Depart Adelaide Depart Adam Bay NotesR. Arthur in charge of stock Ellen Lewis May 1866 Eagle January 1867 J. Railton Atkinson chainman Henry Ellis April 1864 Bengal May 1865 sacked by Finniss. From Surabaya to Singapore with Cottrell, died in India.William Patrick Auld labourer Henry Ellis April 1864 Bengal May 1865 in charge of Sgt. Potter killed Aboriginal man 8 September 1864 near Chambers Bay, Northern TerritoryJob Austin(died 1909) visitor South Australian October 1864 (privately)Bengal March 1865 South Australian December 1864Ellen Lewis December 1865 later with Goyder expedition, Overland Telegraph (OT) projectWilliam Nicholas M. de Bathe(c. 1846 – 4 December 1868) labourer South Australian October 1864 No further mention, so likely he failed to depart. He was son of horse breeder James Bathe, owner of Graham's Castle, Prospect.Samuel Baker labourer Henry Ellis April 1864 Ellen Lewis December 1865 died 28 March 1868Jacob Bauer Intended settler and agent for land purchasers, accompanied by wife Eliza and ten-year-old son Alfred. South Australian October 1864 (privately) Denied access to store by Manton, but supplied food by the men from their rations. Drowned 12 October 1866 after falling from boatHenry Baumgurtel (perhaps Henry Leslie Thomas Baumgurtel, died 1888) labourer, miner Henry Ellis April 1864 Ellen Lewis December 1865 Robert Beard (c. 1814 – 19 December 1884) visitor 1864in charge of stock 1866 South Australian October 1864 (privately)Bengal March 1865Ellen Lewis May 1866