Glen Osmond Road
Surveyor-General Light made no provision for a direct road between Adelaide and the Glen Osmond foothills in his original survey of farming sections. Travellers bound for the Mt Barker District crossed private land to reach the Mt Lofty Ranges spurs. During 1839, a powerful lobby of farmers, mining companies and pastoralists gained Governor Gawler’s support for a public road to be built. However, Gawler’s recall and economic recession delayed construction until 1841. Governor Grey established the Great Eastern Road Trust, which had the responsibility of building the road over land which the Government took from the various owners, with a promise of post and rail fencing at the expense of the public purse. The Trust built a toll gate at Glen Osmond to collect money from road users, who had to pay a heavy fine if caught going by any other route. This private company completed the road to Glen Osmond, but lacked the resources to extend the route to present-day Crafers. In 1844, the Government assumed control, and, using a pool of unemployed labourers, completed the job in the next year. Toll collection stopped during 1847; the fees failed to raise enough money to pay construction expenses and the public declared them unfair, as no other road had them. [Information compiled by Reg Butler - Hahndorf]
The Great Eastern Road from Adelaide to the River Murray
In January 1841, building of the Great Eastern Road (now Glen Osmond Road) was commenced by the South Australian Colonial Government to improve the communication between the City of Adelaide, the District of Mount Barker and the Overland Route to New South Wales and Port Phillip (S.A. Act No. 4, 1841).
THE COLONIAL REGISTER. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1839.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR.
The want of main or direct lines of communication between the country districts and the capital has been for some time rather seriously felt, and as the settlement of the interior proceeds, the call for easy and practicable roads must necessarily become more urgent. A memorial on this subject has recently been presented to the Governor, signed by a great portion of the colonists who are interested in the Mount Barker and Para River districts. Of this document and of his Excellency's reply we have been favoured with copies, which we now submit to our readers as proofs, not merely of the sound practical views our leading settlers take on a subject of all others the most essential to civilized colonization, but of our excellent Governor's readiness to meet their views and to promote by every possible means the important object in question. Nor is his Excellency content with ordinary official expressions of a desire to establish roads in every direction. At the moment we write he is in the field, accompanied by Captain Sturt, the Surveyor-general, and by Mr. Maclaren, one of the most able of the senior deputy-surveyors, personally exploring the best route to the important districts of Encounter Bay and the Lower Murray. It is impossible for the colonists to doubt that his Excellency has their interests at heart or that the work will be well done when talent and labor are thus freely given to accomplish it.
Government House, April 13, 1839. Sir — I have the honor to enclose his Excellency's reply to the memorial which you presented on Thursday, and to request that you will communicate the substance of that reply to the other gentlemen interested in it. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, George Hall., Private Secretary.
Mathew Smillie, Esq., Grenfell-street. UNTO the Honorable his Excellency Lieut. Colonel Gawler, K. H., &c., &c., Governor and Resident Commissioner of the Province of South Australia. The humble Memorial of the Subscribers, Proprietors of Land, or otherwise interested in the Mount Barker District— That some of your Memorialists have lately acquired lands by means of special surveys in the said district, and either intend to reside there, or will have frequent occasion to visit the district, and keep up a constant intercourse with it; and the rest of your Memorialists have otherwise an interests as proprietors of lands, or as merchants and traders in the city of Adelaide, in promoting the means of communications between the city and the interior. That by the operation of special surveys more lands will no doubt be acquired in the district; and, by the introduction of cattle and sheep, the cultivation of the soil, the subdivision of property by purchase and lease, and the erection of villages, the intercourse between the city and the district may reasonably be expected greatly to increase. That hitherto the city has drawn its supplies chiefly by importation from the mother country and the neighbouring colonies; but, as the land in the Mount Barker district is known to be of a very superior description, there is good reason to expect that within a reasonable period the wants of the city may, to a very considerable extent, be supplied from that district, and even at present it, in a great measure, supplies the city with timber and dairy produce. That in these circumstances it is of vital importance to the welfare and progressive improvement of the colony that the means of communication between the city and the district should be placed on the best and most convenient footing. That in the valuable notes of a journey into the interior, performed by your Excellency, published in the Gazette of the 19th January last, your Excellency, in speaking of the spurs of the Mount Lofty and Mount Barker ranges, observes — "These form, at first sight, the greatest obstacles in the way of practicable roads; but, on a closer research, good passes over them may almost everywhere be found. That these observations are extremely gratifying to your Memorialists, by satisfying them, not only of the practicability of forming an easy communication between the city and the district, but that your Excellency's attention has, for some time, been directed to the subject. That the means of communication are at present of the rudest and most difficult description, the road chiefly used leading over the highest elevation of a very steep ridge, on which draught horses cannot be used, and even bullock teams cannot convey more than half a ton weight. It necessarily follows that while the road continues in this state all communication between the city and the district must be of a very expensive, difficult, dilatory, and dangerous. That unfortunately in the original surveys the means of communication between the city and the interior appear to have been entirely lost sight of. No roads have been reserved, and even the almost inaccessible hills over which the present road passes are the private property of Mr. Sheriff Newenham. That in all these circumstances your Memorialists humbly submit that a very strong case is made out for the aid of the public funds in the formation of a practicable road through some of the numerous passes that occur in the spurs of the mountains. That if it should unfortunately happen that no public funds are at your Excellency's disposal for such a purpose your Memorialists would humbly suggest that the object might be attained by an act of your Excellency in council, appointing trustees with authority to form a suitable road, to levy tolls and to borrow money on the security of the tolls for carrying this desirable measure into effect. That if this suggestion should meet the approval of your Excellency, your Memorialists would further humbly suggest the expediency of a previous survey, at the public expence, to ascertain the most suitable and central line of which might be executed at the least expence. [?] your Memorialists shall ever pray, &c. David M'Laren, Manager South Australian company, J. B. and S. Hack, C. Flavman, John Russell, Duncan M'Farlane, John Russell, Osmond Gilles, William Wyatt, George Stevenson, John Finniss, W. H. Dutton by J. Finnis, T. Warriner, G. S. Cotterell, Sydney G. Watson, John Walker, George Deane, H. Watts, Pro. John Murdoch, Alexander Lorimer. Matthew Smillie, for self and William. Smillie.
To the Memorialists on the subject of an improved line of road to the Mount Barker district. - GENTLEMEN, I coincide most fully with you in the importance of the object towards the attainment of which your memorial is directed. It will give me great pleasure, after returning from a short journey which I am about to take to the Southern District, to have a close investigation made of the extent to which it will be possible, wild present means, to accomplish your wishes, and also, to follow up actively any reasonable prospect that may, by this or any other course, present itself to the same end.
GEORGE GAWLER, Governor, South Australia. GOVERNMENT-HOUSE, April 16th, 1839.
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The colony faced bankruptcy due to heavy government spending and crop failures in 1840 and the Governor, Colonel George Gawler, was recalled to London and was replaced by George Grey who cut spending. Frome was obliged to take on additional duties, including the management of the Land Titles Office. Despite the cut backs the Great Eastern Road was surveyed and constructed in 1841.
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South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)
Saturday 14 August 1841
GREAT EASTERN ROAD. THE TRUSTEES on this road are prepared to raise money on the Toll, pursuant to Act of Council, and to issue mortgages for any sum not being less than £25, to bear interest at the rate of [?] per cent, per annum from the time of advance. Parties desirous of lending money, or requiring information, are requested to apply to MR GEORGE MORPHETT North Terrace, August 10, 1841 N.B. The works are in a forward state, and it is expected that the road will shortly be opened.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)
Saturday 25 September 1841
GREAT EASTERN ROAD. - NOTICE is hereby given, that the division of this road leading through Glen Osmond will be open to the public on Monday, the 4th day of October next; and from and after that date, the several trackways now in use from Adelaide to the head of Glen Osmond will be shut up, and any person or persons using or attempting to use other than the new road, or endeavouring to evade the toll, will incur the statutory penalty. The following are the rates of toll leviable at the Glen Osmond bar: s. d. For every coach, chariot, chaise, gig, hearse, caravan, or other carriage, and every cart, waggon, dray, or other vehicle, if drawn by one horse or two bullocks ... 1 0 For every such carriage or vehicle drawn by two horses or four bul-' locks....... 1 6 For every such carriage or vehicle drawn by four horses or six bul- locks .... 2 0 For every such carriage or vehicle drawn by six or more horses, or eight or more bullocks ...3 0 For every such carriage or vehicle drawn by one pony, ass, or mule, not exceeding thirteen hands high... 0 6 For every such carriage or vehicle drawn by two or more such ponies, asses, or mules .... 1 0 For every saddle or led horse, mule, or ass ..... 0 6 For horses, mules, asses, oxen, cows, or other neat cattle, driven (per head) .... 0 1 For all sheep, lambs, calves, hogs, swine, or goats, driven (each) .... 0 1 By older of the Trustees. John Calder, Glen Osmond, Surveyor and Clerk. Sept. 24th, 1841. Note — An adjourned meeting of the Trust will be held on Tuesday, the 28th current, within the Corporation Council Rooms, at 12 o'clock, for the purpose of electing a person to receive the tolls, and for other business of the Trust.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)
(about)Previous issue Saturday 2 April 1842
GREAT EASTERN ROAD. Notice to Debenture Holders. THE TRUSTEES on ilie oliove road having fixed that the inu-rest on money lent on the ftecurity of the trust, he paid half yearly; and that the sth ol April and sth of October lie the t'-rms of payment: Notice i« hereby given, that the several parties holding Debentures will receive payment of the interest due thereon, cal culated up to the sth April next, lifter that date, by application at rlic Ban it of .South Australia. The Trustees art- prepared to issue a few more debentures at a reduced rate oi interest. A meetinp of the Trustees will lie held within tlio Corporation Council rooms on Monday, the 4th April, at one o'clock. JOHNCALDEIi, Surveyor and Clerk. Adelaide. 26th March. 1842.
