South Australia has a reputation for being different. Conceived as a ‘province’ fully formed, it was the only colony to be founded by an Act of the British parliament.
The ideals present at its founding in 1836 included enlightened aspirations towards the Aboriginal inhabitants. In colonial times it succeeded in becoming the granary of the Australian continent, though limited resources often handicapped it. Adelaide, the colony’s capital, exercised an influence over the colony unmatched by the capitals in other Australian colonies. This book seeks to explore the South Australian experience to the time of Australia’s federation in 1901.