Fencing South Australian farms from 1836 to 1849

Abstract

<p>South Australia was established in 1836 based on free emigration to be funded by sales of land, but as in the other colonies, settlers encountered problems caused by an early lack of fences. Although it was not the responsibility of farmers to protect their crops from trespassing animals, they responded to trespassing stock by impounding them in such numbers that South Australia developed a short-lived and unique approach to trespass. In this article I address what A. G. Price called the 'problem of fencing' in South Australia during the colony's first thirteen years. After reviewing contemporary descriptions, I use official reports to closely examine the structures used, and the extent of fencing, until the end of 1849 when wire fencing was increasingly adopted. I then describe the development of legislation related to fencing.</p>