SESSION 7

‘Being Economical with the Truth: Early Settlers, Health and the South Australian Environment’ presented by Margaret Boult, Professional Historians Association (SA)

Tickets

When the first colonists arrived in South Australia, they encountered an unfamiliar environment and sought to make sense of it. In their letters and diaries, they often framed their observations through the lens of health and disease. Before migrating, they had been exposed to promotional material designed to attract settlers. However, the personal experiences of new arrivals often contrasted with the promised image of an ideal, healthy place.

This talk adopts the ‘history from below’ approach advocated by medical historian Roy Porter, shifting the focus from medical practitioners and officials to the lived experiences of ordinary people. Analysing the writings of early settlers reveals how they perceived South Australia’s environment and climate, interpreted its impact on health, and sought to reconcile these experiences with their pre-existing medical beliefs. Their observations contribute to a longer history of connections between climate and health, anticipating later debates on public health, disease, and environmental adaptation in Australia.

Presentation time: Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 6:30 pm
Presentation duration: 20-25 minutes

Please note: tickets include x3 presentations by Margaret Boult, Greg Slattery and Bridget Jolly.

Image: Drawing of Rigby’s Sturt River camp in Letter from John Fogg Tayler, 1840, SLSA D7310(L)