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| Inside an early settlers' hut |
Somewhere to live was a priority. At first, settlers were encouraged to bring tents or portable houses. Neither proved suitable for the climate. Portable houses were ingenious designs with pre-constructed standardised panels that could be shipped flat then simply bolted together. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter, they were attractive to termites. Reed huts became popular. The material was to hand and it was easy to use. However, the huts often caught fire. Rammed earth walls were used for a while. Clay for bricks was soon discovered and local limestone was suitable for housing.
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| Hindley Street in 1850 |
Henry Hussey was 14 when his family arrived in Adelaide in 1839. They rented a two room cottage on Hindley Street. The streets were all in a terrible condition and in the winter there were deep holes that filled with water. Henry was particularly amused by a story that went around the town. It was said that a man was found sitting in one of the holes, up to his waist in water. "What are you doing there?" he was asked."Sitting on my horse," he replied. There was probably some truth in the joke.
