What Happened on The 28th December 1836?
These necessary conditions were met when the Buffalo landed at Holdfast Bay (Glenelg), and Governor Hindmarsh and Resident Commissioner Fisher - making the 2nd and 3rd Executive Council members then resident in the Province, arrived at Gouger's camp.
After the Oaths had been administered, the Order-in-Council was produced and by this act, The Government was Constituted.
The Council members and Colonial Officers were then officially elected to their positions.
Governor John Hindmarsh's Commission was then read by his Secretary George Stevenson to a crowd of 200 immigrants gathered outside the tent. This Commission advised the immigrants of the Governor and Council's powers on behalf of the Crown.
We then held a Council in my tent, for the purpose of agreeing upon a Proclamation requiring all to obey the laws, and declaring the Aborigines to have equal rights, and an equal claim upon the protection of the Government with the white colonists. The Commission was then read in public, a "Feu-de-joie" was fired by the marines, the white ensign hoisted, and a salute fired by the ships.
The Proclamation having been read, the meeting adjourned to Mr. Kingston's tent, where a cold dinner was provided for such as chose to partake of it, and the festivities were kept up to quite a late hour.
(Gouger's Diary December 28th, 1836)
This series of events was referred to as 'proclaiming the province'. Kingston and Light were not present at this ceremony.
