398 AUSTRALASIA. 



were discovered in the hilly district bounded on the south by the course of the 

 Fitzroy River. This event attracted large numbers of gold-hunters to the spot ; 

 villages sprang up, and ports were established along the river-banks and on the 

 shores of the neighbouring inlets. In 1886, when the mines were placed under 

 official administration, this district of Kimberley was found to be inhabited by 

 several thousands, mostly connected with the mining industry. Derby, the capital, 

 stands on the east side of an estuary, where the Fitzroy River reaches the coast. 



The settlement of this part of Australia, which over half a century ago was 

 already described by George Grey as one of the most promising regions on the 

 continent, is an event of primary importance in the history of colonisation. 

 Although comparatively^ well watered and fairly productive, it had been avoided by 

 the British colonists owing to the heat of the climate. It certainly lies entirely 

 within the tropical zone ; but it occupies a favourable position over against the 

 Dutch East Indies, from which it is separated only by the narrow Arafura Sea. 

 Hence Kimberley is probably destined to become the chief centre of trade and 

 intercourse between the Indonesian and Australian populations, at present almost 

 complete strangers to each other. In some of the estuaries along this coast the 

 tides rise to a height of from 35 to 40 feet. 



Of all the continental colonies Western Australia has remained longest attached 

 to Great Britain by direct administrative ties. Hitherto not only the Gover- 

 nor and Executive Council, but even the Legislative Council has been at least 

 partly nominated by the Central Government. In 1889, however, the Imperial 

 Parliament favourably entertained a bill passed by the Legislative Council substi- 

 tuting a responsible government for the hitherto existing representative system of 

 administration. By this change AYestern Australia will doubtless soon be placed on 

 the same footing as all the other colonies of the Australian continent. It is divided 

 into fourteen electoral districts, the franchise being extended to all citizens pos- 

 sessing landed property of the value of £1,000, or paying a yearl}^ rent of at least 

 £10. The defensive forces comprised in 1889 a volunteer corps of over 600 men. 



South Australia. 



The name of this colony is scarcely justified by its geographical position, for 

 its territory does not include the southernmost part of the mainland, while on the 

 other hand it stretches right across the continent northwards to the Arafura Sea. 

 It thus comprises all the central region westwards to 129° east longitude, and 

 eastwards to 138° on the Gulf of Carpentaria and as far as 141° on the slope 

 draining to the Southern Ocean. On the north coast it embraces the peninsula 

 skirting the west side of the Gulf of Carpentaria ; on the south the Gulfs of 

 Spencer and S. Vincent form the chief indentations of its seaboard, and over a 

 fourth of the mainland lies within its borders. 



The settlement of South Australia began on the shores of the southern gulfs in 

 the year 1834, and towards the close of 1836 the oflficial proclamation of the new 

 state was made near the port of Glenelg under a large eucalyptus, whose now life- 



