The
Glenelg
Flagstaff
&
Signal Mast
The Customs House Quay, Glenelg
at the corner of Adelphi Terrace and Anzac Highway, Glenelg.
G.S. Kingston was the architect - the builders were East & Breeze.
The Customs House Quay
The Customs House Quay was the high ground on the eastern side bend of the Patawalonga Creek, reserved as Public Land under our Foundation Act. We know this place today as the area where the Buffalo Replica Restaurant is moored.
Pioneer Ships Landing Place 1836
The first emigrants had been landed with some difficulty on the beach by means of the ships boats. It was soon found more convenient to enter the creek at low tide to avoid the breakers. A small landing place was soon built.
The Reed Hut Printing Office 1836
Printing of the Government Acts
First Boat Building June 1837
The Government Reserve April 1838
The Customs House
John Anthony was appointed Customs House Officer at Glenelg in April 1838, however, it was not until February 1839 when the ballot for Glenelg had been won by Finke's syndicate, that the Government called for a tender to erect the Customs House. The old Government Cottage was built as his accommodation. He remained in occupation until 1845 during which time seven of his ten children were born in the cottage.
Anthony had been the chief officer of the barque South Australian which had landed on Kangaroo Island in April 1837. Shortly after his arrival, he had been severely injured by an exploding signal cannon losing the sight of an eye, breaking an arm, a collarbone and 3 ribs.
The Glenelg Flagstaff
Anthony had to hoist a flag whenever a vessel was sighted coming up the Gulf, and he had instructions at the same time to fire one or two guns. One gun signified the arrival of a ship from one of the other colonies, two announced the presence of a vessel from England.
O.G. Cutter Built November 1839
The first European occupiers of the site had been the Thomas family who had built a rush hut near their tents to accommodate the first printing press. They had landed from the Africaine on the 10th November setting up their camp near this spot. It was from Mary Thomas's tent that the settlers first mail was collected to be sent back home. was brought up from the beach to their camp on the 20th December by marines from the Buffalo.
In this small reed hut, 12 feet square, Governor Hindmarsh's
Proclamation 'Establishment of The Government' was printed on the 14th January 1837, as well as the first three Acts of the newly elected Council of Government.
The two mud barges for deepening Port Adelaide were assembled in the Patawalonga. They had been brought in pieces from Sydney on the Royal George. The ship also landed 8 draught horses at Glenelg on this same voyage.
The acre allotment at the corner of Adelphi Terrace was reserved as the Government Reserve by Light, Finniss & Company Surveyors, for the purpose of building a Customs House.
For some time the majority of ships over 300 tons and drawing more than 16 feet of water which could not enter Port Adelaide, off-loaded at Glenelg. Floatable goods were pitched overboard and tided into the Patawalonga. Two landing waiters employing 5 men and making up to 5 trips a day, collected thousands of pounds of Customs Duty from this small landing.
This 22 ton cutter was built by Henning and Fenden on the banks of the Patawalonga for Osmond Gilles, the Colonial Treasurer. On the day of the launch, the tide went out and the ship was stranded on the mud bank. The ship, moored at Glenelg, served as a coastal vessel for several years running a service to Pt. Lincoln.