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Chart of Port Adelaide covering part of LeFevre's Peninsula and Torrens Island and showing detailed topography of the Port River and surrounding landcover. Several buoys are already laid down and a number of places are marked on the map as follows: A the landing place at Holdfast Bay, B the Old Landing Place (Port Misery) at the lower edge of the map, C the New Landing Place or Inner Harbor as it is now known. Several locations are D: adjacent or in the North Arm south of Torrens Island these are all represented as future locations for the port. E immediately adjacent to the North Arm is considered a suitable anchorage for the largest vessels. O is at the entrance to the river and is noted as a very good anchorage outside the outer bar.

William Light's selection for the site of Adelaide was dependent on finding a good harbour. After a considerable search in which he had to reconcile actual locations with vague reports from whaling captains, as well as examine Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, he finally identified the Port River as a suitable harbour in November 1836. The first ship to enter the Port River Tam-o-Shanter was also the first casualty as it grounded on the outer bar to the river. It was however refloated. In 1839 the decision was made to move the harbour downstream to C the site of the present Inner Harbor.

Light, William, 1786-1839

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. Wooden Walls and Iron Sides August 2004-