COLONY OF NORTH AU.'STRALIA. 51 



In January ;, 1847, the recently proposed colony 

 of '^^ North Australia " was established by a party 

 from Sydney^ under Lieut.-Col. Barney^ R.E.^ with 

 a suitable staff of public functionaries. The colonists 

 encountered more than usual difficulties and hard- 

 ships, even at the commencement. The transport 

 conveying- the first portion of the party^ consisting- 

 of eig'hty-eig'ht persons^ struck on the shoal off Gat- 

 combe Head^ and required to be hove down^ a fit 

 spot for which purpose was fortunately found in a 

 narrow but deep mangrove creek further up the 

 harbour^ at a place indicated upon the Rattlesnake's 

 chart. The party were at first encamped upon the 

 south end of Facing' Island^ but afterwards removed 

 to the main land^ upon a site for the new township 

 of Gladstone havino- been chosen there. The settle- 

 ment^ however^ was abandoned^ after a short-lived 

 existence of five months^ in obedience to orders 

 received from home^ consequent upon a chang'e in 

 the plans of Government reg'arding- the disposal of 

 convicts^ for '^ North Australia " had been originally 

 intended to be a penal settlement^ or one for the 

 reception of ^^ exiles." The expenses incurred by 

 this experiment amounted to upwards of £15^000. 



The survey of the harbour and its approaches 

 occupied a period of three weeks. Althoug-h this 

 work had ceased to be one of immediate importance^ 

 yet it Avill eventually be of considerable benefit to 

 the colony of New South Wales^ as the gradual 

 extension of the squatting" stations to the northward 



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