We have now reached the end of our story only to find we have arrived at the very beginning of the next story. By the end of this week all nine of our ships have arrived in South Australian waters with the Buffalo arriving in Holdfast Bay on December 28th. As soon as the Buffalo arrives, a meeting is held in Robert Gouger’s tent where a Proclamation announcement is agreed upon. The settlers then assemble around a giant gum tree while George Stevenson reads out the proclamation and the Province of South Australia is officially proclaimed. This week we will look at the Proclamation of South Australia and consider what it means to the settlers and the Aboriginal people who were already living in South Australia. Christmas day also falls this week which gives us an opportunity to think about the way people have celebrated significant days and events since 1836.
