Views in South Australia – 1. Bushmen at Camp Mouth of the Salt Creek SA 2. Hungry Bushmen after Beef, Scene near the Maria Creek SA 3. Kangaroo Hunting in SA 4. Mount Gambier, SA 5. Scene on the River Murray SA 6. The Rocky Creek SA

Complete set of six lithographic views of colonial South Australia, by Edward Castle who came to South Australia in 1839 on board the Moffatt and took up land in the colony. This very rare suite of six lithographs made only three years after settlement of Adelaide in 1836, are part of a handful of early colonial South Australian images made for prospective emigrants and investors in Britain.

The set includes the earliest print view of the Mount Gambier area.

History of European discovery of Mount Gambier:
The peak of the dormant Mount Gambier crater was sighted in 1800 by Lieutenant James Grant from the survey brig, HMS Lady Nelson, and named after Lord James Gambier, Admiral of the Fleet. It was the first place named by the British in what was later to become the colony of South Australia. In 1839, Stephen Henty, one of the Henty brothers who occupied large landholdings at Portland and Merino, led an overland expedition to explore the Mount Gambier region. He was the first white man to climb the peak and view the blue crater lake.  The Henty brothers subsequently laid claim to Mount Gambier in 1842 and established a sheep station there.

Each lithograph is matted and presented in a Solander box with green morocco spine, gilt bands and red title label. 

1. Bushmen at Camp Mouth of the Salt Creek SA
2. Hungry Bushmen after Beef, Scene near the Maria Creek SA
3. Kangaroo Hunting in SA
4. Mount Gambier, SA
5. Scene on the River Murray SA
6. The Rocky Creek SA

Edward Castle was born in Bristol and arrived in South Australia on the Moffat in 1839 and took up land. The prints were lithographed by the well known lithographers Alfred and Rose Pocock of Bristol. The family connection with Bristol would have been the reason why the prints were lithographed and published in Bristol. The Pococks’ at the time were actively promoting their lithographic printing business, by advertising their services in various newspapers and via their own printed flyers. They also supplied materials for lithographers and offered advice: ‘directions given to assist Young Practitioners’.