South Australian Railway Company

The South Australian Railway Company was an attempt in the 1840s by private capitalists to establish a railway in the infant colony of South Australia. The company was based in London, where most of the capital was to be raised, £25,000 in the first instance. There were two or three local directors, since in the days before electric undersea cable telegraph, London was too far away for effective control.

Routes

The first route from Adelaide to Port Adelaide was only 6 miles long, quite straight and flat and suitable for horse drawn operation. The initial line was to be single track, with frequent crossing loops.

A longer route to the Burra copper mines was proposed later on.

Directors

British directors (possibly incomplete): G. F. Angas, Esq., George Barnes Esq, W.G Gover, Esq., Rowland Hill, Esq., J. B. Montefiore, Esq.: Managing Director.—Edwin Hill, Esq.: Colonial Director—Robert Gouger, Esq.

The provisional committee in February 1846 was:[1]

Capt. Bagot M.L.C.
John Baker Esq.
Charles Beck, Esq.
James Bunce, Esq.
William Giles, Esq.
Jacob Hagen, Esq. M.L.C.
John Hart, Esq.
Capt. George Hall
James Henderson, Esq.
E. L. Montefiore, Esq.
J. B. Neales, Esq.
William Peacock, Esq.
Saml. Stocks, Jun., Esq.
W. Younghusband, Esq.

Collapse

In the event the railway was too ambitious, and ahead of its time. It was stillborn.

Timeline

1836 Colony of South Australia is founded
1846 (February) Advertisement for Prospectus to raise capital of £25,000. (with power to increase).[1]
1846 (July) Special Meeting to approve amalgamation with the Adelaide City and Port Railway Company[2]
1850 Survey of his proposed line to a point distant 65 to 70 miles from Adelaide, and only 26 miles from the Burra Burra Copper mines.
1854 Steam operated government railway opens.
1856 Sir—May I be permitted to enquire what has become of the funds collected by the South Australian Railway Company. I hold scrip, of which the ...[3]
1865 A South Australian Railway Company has been projected, and several influential parties are moving in the matter.

References

"Advertising". South Australian Register. South Australia. 28 February 1846. p. (). Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
"SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY COMPANY". South Australian Register. Vol. XIII, no. 958. South Australia. 18 July 1849. p. 2. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
"THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY COMPANY". South Australian Register. Vol. XX, no. 2930. South Australia. 20 February 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

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[proposal-1] "Advertising". South Australian Register. South Australia. 28 February 1846. p. (). Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

[2] "SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY COMPANY". South Australian Register. Vol. XIII, no. 958. South Australia. 18 July 1849. p. 2. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

[3] "THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY COMPANY". South Australian Register. Vol. XX, no. 2930. South Australia. 20 February 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.