Colonel William Light Print Page

The plaque commemorates Colonel William Light who explored the District in 1837 and 1839. 

Plaques were ceremoniously unveiled at Nuriootpa, Truro, Lights Pass and Angaston on Friday and Saturday, to commemorate the passing through this district, 100 years ago, of Capt. Chas. Sturt, leader of the exploration expedition to Centralia. Lights Pass and Nuriootpa also had plaques in honor of Col. Wm. Light, who explored this district in 1837 and 1839, and after whom Lights Pass was named by Chas. Flaxman.

A third plaque on the Lights Pass cairn commemorates pioneers, whilst one at Nuriootpa is in memory of William Coulthard (Cr. Coulthard's grandfather) who in 1850 subdivided Sec. 156 as Nuriootpa. He died of thirst in 1858 near Pernatty Lagoon (within half a mile of water) in his search for pastoral land. Mrs Boehtn (nee John), who remembers the L carved in the old tree under which Light camped, was received with applause when introduced by Cr. L. Plush. She is now 87.

The Lights Pass cairn is a single stone, 6 tons, set in a 4-ton concrete base. Truro's cairn is of freestone, built at western end of the town. Nuriootpa and Angaston cairns will be built later, the plaques being for the present placed respectively on the SM Hall and Council office. All were unveiled by Mr C. M. Hambidge, pres., SA Royal Geographical Society. The official party included Dr. C. E. C. Wilson (vice-pres.), Mr F. L. Parker (pres., Memorials Commitee). Mr Field and others.
Leader (Angaston, SA), 21 September 1944.

 

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