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Bishop Augustus ShortPrint Page Print this page

13-September-2021
13-September-2021
Photographs supplied by Denis Binnion

The sundial commemorates the life and work of Bishop Augustus Short (1802 - 1883).

The huge wall sundial was unveiled in 1996. Wall sundials are not common in South Australia and this fine example is made of stainless steel on a north facing wall of course. It is three metres tall and designed around a Celtic Cross. Unfortunately the high stone wall and trees and shrubs of Bishops Court masks public views of it.

Augustus Short was the first Anglican bishop of Adelaide, South Australia. In 1845 the Archbishop of Canterbury offered Short the choice of two newly established sees, Newcastle, New South Wales, and Adelaide, South Australia. Short decided to accept Adelaide and on 29 June (St Peter's Day), 1847, was consecrated at Westminster Abbey. Short sailed in the Derwent for Adelaide on 1 September and arrived on 28 December 1847, the eleventh anniversary of the proclamation of the colony. There were then only five churches in the diocese, three at Adelaide, one at Blakiston and another at Gawler.. Short travelled through the settled parts of South Australia, and before the end of 1848 went to Western Australia, then a part of his diocese, where he consecrated that state's first church, St John`s Anglican Church, Albany.He returned to Adelaide early in 1849, and on 24 May 1849 laid the first stone of St peter`s College, Adelaide, founded in 1847 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and William Allen, a wealthy philanthropist. He was the first president of its council of governors. He consecrated Christ Church, North Adelaide in December 1849. 

Soon after Short's acceptance of the see, he made enquiries about a site for a cathedral and was informed that the centre of Victoria Square had been allotted for this purpose by Governor Frederick Robe. This was objected to by the city council and Short decided to have the question finally settled and brought a friendly lawsuit for this purpose. The decision went against Short and eventually the present site in North Adelaide was bought. Subscriptions were raised but the building was not begun until 1869. It was consecrated as St Peter`s Cathedral on 1 January 1878. In November 1881 Short became ill while preaching and under medical advice decided to retire. He left Adelaide for London on 6 January 1882 where he died in October 1883. 

 

Location

Address:Christ Church Lane, Christ Church, Bishop`s Court, North Adelaide, 5006
State:SA
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -34.909812
Long: 138.593561
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
View Google Map

Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Religion
Designer:Sundials Australia (Adelaide, SA)
Monument Manufacturer:Sundials Australia (Adelaide, SA)
Link:http://adb.anu.edu.au/

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Sunday 23rd June, 1996
Front Inscription

The sundial on the wall of Bishop`s Court was erected to commemorate the life of the Right Reverend Short, D. D. (1802 - 1883) and his work as the first Bishop of Adelaide (1847 - 1882)

Labor Aequus Provehit (Just work carries us forward)

Dedicated 23rd June, 1996, by the Most Reverend Ian George, A. M., D.D.

Read sundial time from the middle of the shadow on the wall.  To obtain correct clock time, add the following time correction to the sundial reading.  (In months of Daylight Saving, add one extra hour.)

Latitude 34º 55` S  Longitude 138º 36` E

Designed and constructed by Sundials Australia (John Ward and Margaret Follcard), Adelaide

Source: MA, ADB
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au