Colonel William Light 1786 - 1839
Light's Landing at Holdfast Bay
3rd October, 1836.
On the morning of October 1st 1836, Light sailed southwards from the mangroved inlet (Pt Adelaide), to see if he had missed the elusive harbour which had been discovered by Collet Barker and re-examined by Captain Jones.
Running down the coast, I was enchanted with the extent of the plain to the northward of the Mount Lofty range; and as we had very little wind, our progress was slow, and consequently more time for observation; all the glasses in the ship were in requisition. At length seeing something like the mouth of a small river, and a country with trees so dispersed as to allow the sight of most luxuriant green underneath, I immediately stood in for it, and at fifteen minutes past four, p.m., came to an anchor in three and a half fathoms in mud and weeds, about one and a half miles from the mouth of the river.
Hardly had they furled sails when it came on to blow a strong gale with a heavy swell. The Rapid veered away to a deeper anchorage to ride out the storm, demonstrating the splendid holding ground of "Holdfast Bay".
The name had been suggested by the Third Officer, Robert Keat Hill and denoted the anchorage directly off the coast from the Patawalonga creek marked VII on Light's map.
The name "The Bay", was first used by Robert Gouger, The Colonial Secretary, on the 16th December 1836.
October 3rd, 1836
The small gig boat landed Light, Pullen, Claughton, Dr. Woodforde and Lawes (a gardener), south of the Patawalonga mouth at 9 am to examine the plain. (see Light's Instruction No.7 Homepage)
Claughton, Woodforde and Lawes walked some way inland, while Light and Pullen walked along the beach south for 2 miles to a supposed river seen from the top mast. Field sailed the Rapid to this rendezvous, but no river was found (Somerton beach). The landing party then walked on for another 5 miles but eventually returned to the Holdfast Bay anchorage at 4 p.m. Lawes reported that the soil was good.
October 4th, 1836
I cannot express my delight at seeing no bounds to a flat of fine rich-looking country with an abundance of fresh-water lagoons, which, if dry in summer, convinced me that one need not dig a deep well to give a sufficient supply. The little river too, was deep; and it struck me that much might hereafter be made of this little stream.
October 5th, 1836
Having much to do in observing several bearings from the ship, for the purpose of constructing my 'hasty chart' of this side of the gulf, I remained at anchor, and sent Messrs. Claughton and Jacob to trace the river up if they could, until they found fresh water in it.