Collet Barker
Encyclopedia
Collet Barker was a British military officer and explorer. He explored areas of South Australia
, Western Australia
and Cobourg Peninsula
, Northern Territory
, he lived in Newbury
as a child. He joined the British Army
in 23 January 1806 as an ensign
by purchase in the 39th regiment of foot, becoming a lieutenant in 1809 and captain in 1825. Barker was a veteran of the Peninsular Wars, serving in Sicily
, Portugal
, Spain
and France
. He also served in Canada
and Ireland
before embarking with his regiment the 39th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion on the prison hulk Phoenix arriving in Sydney 18 July 1828. On 13 September 1828 he arrived as the new commandant of Fort Wellington the settlement at Raffles Bay in the Northern Territory, and the following year was commander at King George's Sound
in Western Australia
. Barker was an excellent administrator and proved to be an humane friend to the local indigenous
people of both commands. He recorded Aboriginal place names, people, traditions and beliefs which would have been lost entirely. Had he lived he was to be sent to New Zealand
's north island as first resident by Governor Darling
because of the feared Māori unrest; his role was to conciliate. In 1831, on the recommendation of Charles Sturt
, who had discovered the shouled mouth of the Murray River
the previous year, Barker was sent to explore the east coast of Gulf St Vincent in South Australia
to see if another channel from the Murray entered the sea there.
On 13 April 1831 Barker and his party arrived at Cape Jervis
on the Isabella. He examined the coast and found that there was no channel. Barker discovered the Onkaparinga River
on 15 April. He then explored the ranges inland, north of the present site of Adelaide
, and climbed Mount Lofty
where he sighted the Port River
inlet, Barker Inlet
and the future Port Adelaide
, his most important discovery. He then moored Isabella near present Yankalilla Bay and went overland to explore the area around Lake Alexandrina and Encounter Bay
. On 29 April the mouth of the Murray was reached. Barker swam across the narrow channel the next morning, went over a sandhill, and was never seen again. A few days later the party learned that Barker had been killed by the local indigenous people
who had mistaken him for a whaler or sealer.
Mount Barker
was named for him by Captain Sturt who erroneously thought it was Mount Lofty, and the eponymous town
is named for the mountain. The town of Mount Barker, Western Australia
and the electoral division of Division of Barker
in south-eastern South Australia are also named for him.
http://www.desertdreams.com.au/iblog/C1759100478/E20071129143436/index.html
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and Cobourg Peninsula
Cobourg Peninsula
The Cobourg Peninsula is located 350 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is deeply indented with coves and bays, covers a land area of about 2,100 km², and is virtually uninhabited with a population ranging from about 20 to 30 in five family outstations, but...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
History
Barker was born in HackneyHackney (parish)
Hackney was a parish in the historic county of Middlesex. The parish church of St John-at-Hackney was built in 1789, replacing the nearby former 16th century parish church dedicated to St Augustine . The original tower of that church was retained to hold the bells until the new church could be...
, he lived in Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
as a child. He joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 23 January 1806 as an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
by purchase in the 39th regiment of foot, becoming a lieutenant in 1809 and captain in 1825. Barker was a veteran of the Peninsular Wars, serving in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He also served in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
before embarking with his regiment the 39th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion on the prison hulk Phoenix arriving in Sydney 18 July 1828. On 13 September 1828 he arrived as the new commandant of Fort Wellington the settlement at Raffles Bay in the Northern Territory, and the following year was commander at King George's Sound
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Barker was an excellent administrator and proved to be an humane friend to the local indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
people of both commands. He recorded Aboriginal place names, people, traditions and beliefs which would have been lost entirely. Had he lived he was to be sent to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's north island as first resident by Governor Darling
Ralph Darling
General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH was a British colonial Governor and Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831.-Early career:...
because of the feared Māori unrest; his role was to conciliate. In 1831, on the recommendation of Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt
Captain Charles Napier Sturt was an English explorer of Australia, and part of the European Exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers,...
, who had discovered the shouled mouth of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
the previous year, Barker was sent to explore the east coast of Gulf St Vincent in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to see if another channel from the Murray entered the sea there.
On 13 April 1831 Barker and his party arrived at Cape Jervis
Cape Jervis, South Australia
Cape Jervis is a town at the southwestern tip of Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, approximately 108 km south of Adelaide. The population is approximately 300 people and growing rapidly, with a new estate situated behind the main town...
on the Isabella. He examined the coast and found that there was no channel. Barker discovered the Onkaparinga River
Onkaparinga River
The Onkaparinga River runs from its source between Mount Torrens and Charleston in the Mount Lofty Ranges, and flows south westerly to an estuary at Port Noarlunga. The catchment is over 500 km² in area, and is in part located in the Onkaparinga River National Park.The Onkaparinga River is the...
on 15 April. He then explored the ranges inland, north of the present site of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, and climbed Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty is the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges. It is located about 15km east of the centre of the city of Adelaide in South Australia and gives unrivalled panoramic views of the city and the Adelaide plains and foothills. It was first climbed by a European when explorer Collet Barker...
where he sighted the Port River
Port River
The Port River is the western branch of the largest tidal estuary on the eastern side of Gulf St Vincent. It extends inland through the historic Inner Harbour of Port Adelaide, to the constructed salt-water West Lakes in the north-western suburbs of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia...
inlet, Barker Inlet
Barker Inlet
The Barker Inlet is a tidal inlet of the Gulf St Vincent in Adelaide, South Australia, named after Captain Collet Barker who first sighted it in 1831. It contains one of the southernmost mangrove forests in the world, a dolphin sanctuary, seagrass meadows and is an important fish and shellfish...
and the future Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
, his most important discovery. He then moored Isabella near present Yankalilla Bay and went overland to explore the area around Lake Alexandrina and Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay is located on the south central coast of South Australia, some 100 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the encounter on 8 April 1802 between Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, both of whom were charting the Australian coastline for their respective countries...
. On 29 April the mouth of the Murray was reached. Barker swam across the narrow channel the next morning, went over a sandhill, and was never seen again. A few days later the party learned that Barker had been killed by the local indigenous people
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
who had mistaken him for a whaler or sealer.
Mount Barker
Mount Barker (South Australia)
Mount Barker is a mountain just outside of the town of Mount Barker in South Australia.The mountain is the home to a transmission tower that services SAGRN and mobile phone transmissions throughout the area.- History :...
was named for him by Captain Sturt who erroneously thought it was Mount Lofty, and the eponymous town
Mount Barker, South Australia
Mount Barker is an expanding city, home to 10 258 residents that is 33 kilometres up the South Eastern Freeway, east of Adelaide, in South Australia. It is the seat of the District Council of Mount Barker, is the largest town in the Adelaide Hills, and is one of the fastest growing areas in the...
is named for the mountain. The town of Mount Barker, Western Australia
Mount Barker, Western Australia
Mount Barker is a town on the Albany Highway and is the administrative centre of the Shire of Plantagenet in the Great Southern region of Western Australia...
and the electoral division of Division of Barker
Division of Barker
The Division of Barker is an Australian Electoral Division in the south-east of South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Collet Barker, an early explorer of the region at the mouth of the Murray River...
in south-eastern South Australia are also named for him.
Personal life
Captain Barker was never married; his nearest relations were Collet Dobson Collet, nephew; Clara Collet, great niece; Edward Dobson, New Zealand engineer, nephew; Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson New Zealand survey engineer, great nephew and George Dobson surveyor New Zealand who was murdered 1866 by the Burgess gang. it is rather tragic to think that Captain Barker and his great nephew George Dobson were both killed because of mistaken identity and with nothing more than a compass in hand.External links
- J. Bach, 'Barker, Collet (1784 - 1831)', Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
, Volume 1, MUP, 1966, p. 57
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