Author(s): Dunn Robert J

New History

The South Australian / Victorian boundary, was delimited by proclamation on 19 February 1836 when South Australia, the fourth incipient State, was separated from New South Wales. The line coincided with longitude 141[degrees] E. It was demarcated in three progressively shorter stages. Between March and July 1847 Wade, assisted by White and a party of 11 men, laid out the line for 199.29 km, from the coast to just north of present day Serviceton on the Western Highway. From July to October 1849 White and his assistants marked the boundary for 151.68 km north of Wade's northern terminus. White recommenced the survey from his previous terminus near Peebinga at the end of August 1850. After making some progress northwards, extreme drought forced the team to abandon surveying and make a dash for the Murray River, which was reached on 27 September. By early November the bullocks and men had recovered and the final section of the boundary, measuring 97.71 km, was completed on 7 December, when a final pile of stones was constructed about 900 metres from the Murray. So the boundary between South Australia and New South Wales south of the Murray River was completed about seven months before Victoria came into existence.