Adelaide - Lighting the City and Homes
The Lighting of Streets, Houses and Bridges
(Taken from Geoffrey H. Manning's A Colonial Experience)
In Governor Gawler's time a lantern, with a lighted candle in it, was hung on the corner of the vice-regal domain facing North Terrace as a guide to find Government House at night. Mr Bernard, Crown Solicitor, was invited to dine with the Gawler's one night and did not turn up. After dinner the governor and his guests strolled about the grounds, that sloped down to the river, as it was free of scrub. Sounds of distress were heard and a lantern search revealed a hole, about nine feet deep, partly sunk for a well Standing in it, nearly up to his knees in mud and water, was the unfortunate Crown Solicitor, who had missed the guiding light and tumbled into the hole. The accident had serious results, for Bernard was a delicate man and stricken with consumption. He caught a chill and never recovered and died within six months.
In the early days gas and electric light were but fairy tales and candles and lamps were the chief luminants. Tallow candles were the chief commodity, sperm ones being almost unavailable - The latter were hard and had wicks that did not call for the use of snuffers. Tallow dripped horribly in hot weather and they had to have cardboard fixed around them fastened by a pin thrust through the centre to keep them in an upright position.
The slush illuminant was made by filling a pannikin, or ordinary tin, about half way with earth, inserting a worsted wick, and putting fat on top of the earth - it gave but a dim light. An improvement was made by cutting the bottom of a transparent bottle, putting a cork in the neck of it and then filling the bottle with a portion of water and on top a quantity of refined fat. This lamp was hung in a socket and gave a much more brilliant light than the old form of such. The bottle lamp was used widely in shearing sheds and proved very useful.
Then came the tallow dips. A worsted wick was dipped in hot fat and then allowed to cool and the process was repeated over and over until a candle of the required size was secured. The fats left after cooking made very soft candles and the good housekeeper preferred to make her candles from mutton fat. The next step in the evolution was the wax and then the sperm candle as we see them today. Then kerosene and paraffin made a great transformation
There was no light on the temporary bridge to North Adelaide and a resident, Mr Hussey, told me that often on a cloudy, stormy night he waited for a flash of lightning to enable him to see the way across - lanterns were great comforts to those on night errands.
In the early days, All Saints, Hindmarsh, was surrounded with deep gullies, mostly filled up now, though one or to remain. When the congregation came in the evening the lanterns they carried bobbed up and down as their owners traversed the gullies and gave the appearance of Will of the Wisps or Jack o' Lanterns in the darkness.
But forty years ago I recall the erection of the first gas lamp on 8 June 1863. It caused great excitement and a crowd of over 200 people clamoured to be connected with the new installation. Prior to this time oil, imported from England in earthenware jars, had been used in street lamps. When the Lord Raglan Hotel was being erected the energetic builder thought that these empty jars might be used in the place of bricks which were scarce at the time. Accordingly, he purchased all the vessels held by the lighting contractor and they now form the walls of the hotel, supported by a few bricks and a fair coating of cement. Where the weather of the years has wilted the plaster from the walls the jars are exposed to view.
The law appertaining to 'Áncient Lights' was, to many city property owners, a calamity and I well recall a case of the 1890s when a complaint was made that the access of light to windows of a parlour, a bedroom and a laundry of the Terminus Hotel, opposite the railway station, was obstructed by the owner of an adjoining property being erected by McLean Brothers and Rigg Limited.
General Notes
"The Law of Ancient Lights" is in the Register,
11 December 1890, page 4f; also see
8 May 1919, page 4f.
"Water and Light in Pioneer Days" is in the Register,
25 December 1919, page 7c.
Also see Adelaide - Water Supply
The first attempt at shop lighting is discussed in the Observer,
23 August 1845, page 5c.
The proposed lighting of Hindley and Rundle Streets is reported in the South
Australian,
14 July 1846, page 2d; also see
18 January 1850, page 2c.
"Early Lighting of Adelaide" is in the Register,
12 and 13 June 1913, pages 6g and 5f,
"Evolution in Lighting - Slush to Electricity" on
29 September 1917, page 7c.
A proposal for the formation of a gas company is discussed in the Observer,
12 and 19 January 1850, pages 3a and 3e (supp.).
"The Electric Light" is in the Register,
15 April 1856, page 3c,
Observer,
9 November 1867, page 6f.
"Early Lighting in Adelaide" is in the Register on
12 and 13 June 1913, pages 6g and 5f,
"Old Candles and Lamps" on
11 June 1919, page 6g,
"Water and Light in Pioneer Days" on
25 December 1919, page 7c,
8 June 1921, pages 7b.
The lighting of the Princess Royal Baths by "oil gas" is reported in the Register,
7 July 1858, page 3h.
"Gas for Adelaide" is in the Register,
29 November 1858, page 2d,
16 April 1859, page 2e,
18 April 1861, page 2c,
3 September 1861, page 2f,
14 February 1862, page 2e,
22 June 1863, page 2g.
"Introduction of Gas" is in the Advertiser,
3 September 1859, page 2e.
Information on the SA Gas Company is in the Register,
9 July 1861, page 2h.
"Lighting the City" is in the Register,
14 February 1862, page 2e,
7 May 1863, page 2e.
"The Gas" is in the Register,
17 and 23 June 1863, pages 2c and 2h.
"City Gas Lamps" is in the Register,
31 May 1865, page 2e,
Observer,
3 June 1865, page 4d.
"The Magnesium Light" is in the Register,
16 October 1865, page 2f.
"Cheap Gas" is in the Advertiser,
31 May 1866, page 2g,
"Gas for Adelaide" on
24 July 1866, page 2e.
"When the City Was Dark - Anniversary of the Introduction of Gas" is in
the Advertiser,
20 June 1917, page 6i.
Information on the Gas Company and its new premises in Grenfell Street
is in the Observer,
9 May 1868, page 13e.
"Gas for Adelaide' is in the Express,
23 July 1866, page 2d.
"Lighting the City" in the Observer,
4 August 1866, page 2d,
29 September 1866, page 4f.
Information on "The Lighting of the City" is in the Register,
2 August 1866, page 3c and
17, 22 and 28 September 1866, pages 2d, 3e and 3e,
2 July 1867, page 3g,
7, 8 and 12 January 1869, pages 2d, 2c and 3b.
"Gas & Gas Lamps" is in the Register,
2 July 1867, page 3g,
Observer,
6 July 1867, page 3e.
A public meeting called to discuss "Lighting the City Streets" is reported
in the Observer,
10 April 1869, page 7e; also see
24 April 1869, page 13e,
"Gas or No Gas" appears on
17 April 1869, page 10g.
"The Last Flicker of the Street Lamps" is in the Observer,
23 January 1869, page 3e; also see
Register,
13 April 1869, page 2f,
23, 24, 26 and 27 January 1871, pages 4e-5f, 6c, 5c-6a and 5d.
"Street Lighting" is in the Register,
7 January 1869, page 2d,
Observer,
9 and 23 January 1869, pages 3b and 3e.
"Gas or No Gas" is in the Observer,
17 April 1869, page 10g.
A tender for gas lighting the streets is discussed in the Observer,
19 June 1869, page 5g.
"The Shameful Monopoly" is in the Observer,
31 July 1869, page 12c.
Information on the SA Gas Company's Works appears on
1 January 1870, page 3g,
"The Rival Gas Companies" on
31 August 1872, page 13f; also see
Chronicle,
19 August 1876, page 10c.
"The New [Provincial] Gas Company" is in the Register,
12 and 23 October 1869, pages 3f and 3d,
29 November 1869, page 3d,
Chronicle,
23 October 1869, page 12b,
20 November 1869, page 4d; also see
Express,
26 December 1872, page 3d,
Observer,
28 December 1872, page 13g,
Register,
1 February 1873, page 6a,
Chronicle,
8 February 1873, page 12e,
31 January 1874, page 10c.
Register,
2 February 1877, page 6f,
27 October 1877, page 5f.
An obituary of a former manager, W. Thompson, is in the Register,
12 March 1904, page 4i.
"The Citizens and the Gas Question" is in the Register,
26 January 1870, page 3c,
Observer,
29 January 1870, page 6b.
Information on the SA Gas Co. is in the Register,
18 March 1871, page 6a,
17 April 1919, page 5b (history of).
"Gas versus Kerosine" is in the Observer,
23 April 1870, page 5e,
"Lighting the City" on
28 January 1871, page 13a,
11 and 18 January 1873, pages 3c-4f and 13a,
8 February 1873, page 11d.
"Lighting the city is discussed in the Register,
24 and 26 January 1871, pages 6c and 5c,
Observer,
28 January 1871, page 13a,
11 March 1871, page 7b.
A meeting of gas consumers is reported in the Express,
21 and 28 May 1872, pages 3d and 3e.
A proposed amalgamation of two gas companies is reported in the Observer,
18 March 1871, page 3c.
"The Rival Gas Companies" is in the Register,
21 and 28 May 1872, pages 3d and 3e.
26 August 1872, page 4d.
Also see Observer,
18 January 1873, page 13a,
Register,
23 January 1872, page 3f,
21 January 1879, page 4d,
28 February 1879, page 6d,
1, 11, 24 and 25 March 1879, pages 4c, 5a, 6e and 5f,
8 and 29 April 1879, pages 6e and 4f.
"Supply of Gas to Government Establishments" is in the Register,
19 August 1872, page 6b,
28 September 1872, page 5d.
"The Gas Companies" is in the Register,
14 and 15 August 1876, pages 4e-5g and 6a; also see
14 August 1877, page 6d.
"Gasworks for the City" is in the Register,
26 October 1876, page 6a.
An obituary of John Paxton of the SA Gas Company is in the Register,
8 September 1877, page 5c.
A poem titled "The Electric Light" is in the Register,
19 November 1878, page 5f.
"Gas Rate in the City" is in the Register,
22 January 1879, page 6a.
"Gas and Electricity" is in the Chronicle,
11 January 1879, page 5c,
"The Electric Light" is in the Express,
17 January 1879, page 3d,
Observer,
15 February 1879, page 18d.
"The City Street Lamps" is in the Register,
25 and 27 March 1879, pages 5f and 5a,
8 and 15 April 1879, pages 6e and 6d,
Observer,
3 May 1879, page 10e; also see
Register,
17, 20 and 21 January 1880, pages 4f-g and supp. 1a, 4f and 5a-6b,
12 and 13 February 1880, pages 4g and 4f,
2 March 1880, page 5a,
Advertiser,
18 February 1880, page 4d.
"The Gas Company and the Corporation" is in the Register,
14 March 1879, page 6b,
2 January 1880, page 4d.
"Novel Gas Lamps" is in the Register,
27 January 1880, page 5a.
"Legislation Affecting the Gas Supply" is in the Register,
16 April 1881, page 4c,
30 August 1881, page 4e.
"The Electric Light" is in the Register,
20 May 1881, page 4g; also see
20 October 1881, page 5a-d,
26 April 1882, page 4d,
3 May 1882, page 4g,
29 August 1882, page 4c,
28 November 1882, page 5a,
Advertiser,
29 November 1882, page 4c,
Chronicle,
2 December 1882, page 4c,
6 January 1883, page 4e,
3 March 1883, page 5c,
Register,
23 and 24 January 1883, pages 5b and 5a-6e,
26 January 1883, page 6e,
20 February 1883, page 4d,
31 October 1883, page 4f.
"The Meters and Gas Act" is in the Register,
8 November 1881, page 4e.
"Electrical Experiments" is in the Register,
28 February 1882, page 5c.
"Electricity v Gas" is in the Register,
3 May 1882, page 4g.
"The Electric Company's Bill" is in the Register,
29 August 1882, page 4c.
"Lighting the City" is in the Register,
20 February 1883, page 4d,
"The Electric Light in Adelaide" on
31 October 1883, page 4f; also see
20 November 1897, page 7c,
22 January 1898, page 7c.
An editorial on the price of gas is in the Advertiser,
3 October 1884, page 4f.
The introduction of electricity into two hotels is discussed in the Express,
22 and 23 September 1886, pages 6g and 2c.
"A New Electric Light" is in the Register,
27 October 1888, page 5a.
Electricity and gas lighting are discussed in the Register on
21 May 1889, pages 4e-5b,
8 June 1889, page 5a,
30 October 1889, page 7f,
1 November 1889, page 7f,
20 November 1897, page 7c; also see
10 February 1891, page 4h,
13 June 1892, page 4f,
12 February 1894, page 4e,
15, 21 and 24 May 1894, pages 4f, 7g and 7e,
15 and 19 June 1894, pages 7g-h and 7g-h,
4 August 1894, page 4h,
1 and 28 November 1894, pages 4h and 7b,
1 and 4 December 1894, pages 4e and 4h,
10 and 26 September 1895, pages 5b and 4g,
29 August 1899, page 5a.
Also see Observer,
12 January 1895, page 29e,
19 October 1895, page 41e,
7 January 1899, page 27c,
4 February 1899, page 27e,
Express,
10 August 1898, page 4c,
17 January 1899, page 2b,
22 and 29 August 1899, pages 2c and 4d,
Register,
16, 17 and 20 September 1898, pages 5i-6c-7c, 5g and 7f,
29 August 1899, page 5a,
13 January 1900, page 4e,
20 November 1901, pages 6f-8h,
27 September 1910, page 6c,
26 January 1911, page 3b (history of).
"The Rajah Gaslight" is in the Express,
13 July 1893, page 4c.
The use of electricity in a butcher's shop is reported in the Observer,
5 November 1887, page 30c.
"The Gas Company's New Showroom and Cooking by Gas" is in the Register,
8 July 1892, page 6; also see
21 October 1892, page 5c.
"Electricity and Street Lighting" is in the Register,
1 November 1894, page 4g,
1 and 4 December 1894, pages 2e-4e and 4h,
9 January 1895, page 5e.
"The Gas Company and Its Customers" is in the
Register,
22 August 1895, page 4g.
"Electric Light and Motive Power" is in the Register,
26 September 1895, page 4h.
"Electric Light in Adelaide" is in the Register,
14 October 1895, page 6h, also see
27 and 30 August 1898, pages 4h-7e and 6c,
16 September 1898, page 5i,
11 November 1899, page 6h,
13 January 1900, page 4e.
"The New Illumination - Acetylene Gas" is in the Register,
8 June 1899, page 6d.
"The Electric Light Station" is in the Register,
20 July 1900, page 4g.
"The Adelaide Electrical Plant" is in the Advertiser,
24 August 1901, page 9h;
for its opening see
20 November 1901, page 6b.
Photographs are in the Observer,
25 May 1929, page 33.
"A New Light [Kitson Lamp]" is in the Register,
21 May 1903, page 3h.
Electric lighting is discussed in the Register,
6 December 1904, page 4e.
"The New Electricity - The Alternating Current" is in the Register,
6 December 1905, page 8h.
Information on the Adelaide Electric Supply Co is in the Register,
10 March 1906, page 7a,
The News,
14 February 1927, page 6e.
"Electric Light - Temporary Failure" is in the Express,
5 June 1908, page 3f.
"Old Gasworks Reestablished" is in the Register,
2 November 1909, page 4i.
Photographs of Gas Company and Electricity supply teams are in the Chronicle,
18 September 1910, page 32.
"Lighting the City" is in the Register,
27 September 1910, page 6c,
27 August 1912, page 8e.
"Jubilee of Gas Lighting" is in the Register on
20 June 1913, page 7b; also see
Advertiser,
15 July 1913, page 13a,
Express,
15 July 1913, page 3g,
Register,
31 January 1914, page 15e.
"When Darkness Reigns - A City in Gloom" is in the Register,
7 April 1914, page 8c,
"Lighting Restrictions in Force" is in the Register,
28 September 1917, page 4h,
9 October 1917, page 5c,
also see
19 April 1923, page 9c.
An obituary of Alfred Dawkins, secretary of the SA Gas Co., is in the Observer,
31 July 1915, page 44a,
of W.H. Job on
22 October 1927, page 32b.
"Lighting the City" is in the Register,
12 February 1918, page 4f.
"No Gas; No Current - What Householders Are Enduring" is in the Observer,
28 June 1919, page 33c.
"After Dark - Wednesday Night in the City" is in the Observer,
28 June 1919, page 33d.
"Back to the Dark Ages Again" is in the Observer,
7 February 1920, pages 31d-34b.
"City Lighting" is in the Register,
8 June 1921, page 7b.
"The Passing of the Street Gas Lamps" is in the Register,
9 June 1921, page 7c.
"No More Gas Lamps in the City" is in the Advertiser,
8 June 1921, page 7c.
"Adelaide by Night - A Badly Lighted City" is in the Advertiser,
8 and 9 May 1922, pages 9d and 6f.
"The Community's Electricity Needs" is in the Register,
11 July 1923, page 8e,
"Ill-Lighted Adelaide" on
23 December 1924, pages 8d-9d.
An obituary of James Evans, formerly of the SA Gas Co. is in the Observer,
20 September 1924, page 32e.
"Shackles for the Gas Company" is in the Register,
3 October 1924, page 8e.
"Electricity in the Home" is in The News,
10 December 1924, page 8c,
"Electric Home in Adelaide" is in the Advertiser,
1 April 1926, page 26g.
"Lights Out - Adelaide in Darkness" is in the Register,
29 April 1926, page 9f,
"Lights Out" on
24 February 1927, page 9c.
"The Growth of Electricity" is in the Register,
2 November 1927, page 18f,
Observer,
12 November 1927, page 22b.
Information on the Adelaide Electric Supply Co is in The News,
14 February 1927, page 6e.
Information on Stobie poles is in The Mail,
7 September 1935, page 9a.
"How SA Gained Electric Lighting" is in The News,
19 January 1937, page 6f.
