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7 unusual facts about William Light


Dulwich, South Australia

Dulwich, named after the settlement in the London Borough of Southwark, has its origins in Section 263 of the Adelaide region as laid out by South Australia's first chief surveyor, Colonel William Light.

Flagstaff Hill, South Australia

It is named after the hill by that name in the area, where Colonel William Light erected a flagstaff during his survey, which was then used as a trig point.

Gawler, South Australia

The town plan was devised by the colonial surveyor William Light, and was the only town planned by him other than Adelaide.

Gould Creek, South Australia

The bachelor partners, aged twenty-three, first visited this locality in December 1837 when they accompanied Colonel William Light on his exploration to discover the Barossa Valley.

Their squatters’ homestead, with mud chimney and thatched reed roof, known as Fisher and Handcock’s Station, was sketched by William Light and was one of the earliest to be built outside Adelaide.

Marion, South Australia

Colonel William Light laid out the plan for the village, as he had done with the City of Adelaide itself.

Port Noarlunga, South Australia

In June 1837, Colonel William Light led an overland expedition to arrest whalers who had been abducting native women at Encounter Bay, 100 km south of Adelaide.


Brown Hill, Mitcham

Brown Hill, along with Mount Lofty, Green Hill, Flagstaff Hill and Black Hill, was used by Colonel William Light as a trig station for the 1837 survey of the City of Adelaide.

Proclamation Day

One of the children of Robert and Mary Thomas was a surveyor who assisted Colonel William Light in the survey which led to the founding of the City of Adelaide.


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