david coombe history
SUMMARY: F.R. Nixon – a somewhat mischievous artist – etched and printed 12 Views of Adelaide in 1845, priced 21 shillings. A few months later, when controversy erupted, James Allen said they weren't worth 3 farthings!
In early 1845, Frederick Robert Nixon published "Twelve Views of Adelaide", as well as a print of Ridley's reaping machine. Although a good watercolour painter, Nixon taught himself etching and made his own equipment, and the resulting prints didn't reach the same standard as his other work. His series was somewhat overshadowed by an artistic controversy a few months later.
This article compares Nixon's works with similar ones of contemporary artists, especially S.T. Gill's "Series of Adelaide Views".
Article type: NARRATIVE & CATALOGUE
In this article ...
Frederick Robert Nixon (1817-1860) arrived in South Australia as a government surveyor on the brig Rapid in June 1838. In the ensuing survey turmoil involving William Light and George Strickland Kingston, Nixon was one of two new surveyors who didn't have an option to join in the mass resignation,1 but contrived to do so anyway just days later and in melodramatic fashion.2 But he was back in the service as early as October.3
Nixon busied himself with surveying, building a windmill on the Mount Barker survey and in his leisure taking rides in the country, frequently writing for the South Australian Magazine in 1841 and 1842. Nixon was a good sketcher, cartographer, cartoonist and watercolour painter.
In January 1845, less than a week after the (unexpected) return to Adelaide of artist George French Angas, Nixon had a chance to show some of his own work to James Allen of the South Australian Register.
THE FINE ARTS. – Mr Nixon, who has long been favourably known to the Colonists as a draftsman, is, we understand, about to publish a number of etchings, descriptive of Adelaide and its neighbourhood. This gentleman will be his own draftsman, etcher, and printer. Among the objects described will be the Government House, the Public Offices, the Banks, the Churches, and other public edifices. We have been favoured with a sight of Mr Nixon's portfolio, and of some of his incipient efforts at etching, and, although not equal to what might be brought out in London, they are very creditable as Colonial productions. All attempts of this kind are deserving of encouragement, and we cannot, therefore, but wish this gentleman success.4
A few more weeks saw Nixon making progress with his etchings, this time noticed in the South Australian.
VIEWS IN ADELAIDE AND ITS VICINITY. – We have had the pleasure of inspecting a number of etchings by F. R. Nixon, Esq., of some of the most interesting scenes in Adelaide and its neighbourhood. As Mr Nixon is self-taught in his art, and had to manufacture all his machinery for preparing and pressing his etchings, he deserves the greatest credit for his industry, perseverance, and skill. Without reference to any of the disadvantages under which the author has labored, the etchings are superior as works of art, and accurately as well as pleasingly depict the scenes which they represent. Mr Nixon is also engaged in making an etching of Mr Ridley's reaping machine, which he intends publishing in a few days.5
The following month Nixon released his work to the South Australian public.
JUST PUBLISHED, A Series of Views in Adelaide and its neighbourhood, comprising –
1. Government House and part of North Terrace.
2. The Government Offices.
3. St. John's Church.
4. Hindley street.
5. Hindley-street, looking West.
6. Part of Adelaide.
7. The City Mill.
8. Frome Bridge.
9. The South Australian Company's Mill on the Torrens.
10. Klemzig (German Village on the Torrens).
11. The Plains from Glen Osmond Mine.
12. The Port.
ALSO, A Drawing of Ridley's Reaping Machine, price 1s.
To be had at Platts's Library, and at Mr Stephens's, Bookseller and Stationer, Hindley-street, Adelaide.6
The twelve views were priced at one guinea (21 shillings).
Three months later Nixon triggered an artistic eruption. On the eve of George French Angas' Adelaide exhibition, Nixon wrote a letter to the editor of the South Australian newspaper, critiquing Angas' paintings and praising S.T. Gill. (The Nixon-Angas-Gill controversy is the subject of a separate article.) James Allen of the South Australian Register blasted both the editor and the correspondent. He criticised Nixon for writing before Angas' exhibition opened. He hit back too, claiming Nixon had "practised a gross imposition upon the colonists by the publication of twelve views around Adelaide, at a guinea, which were not intrinsically worth three farthings".7
Allen's criticism was very harsh – far harsher than Nixon – but some may have stuck. A quick look is enough to see that "Twelve Views" are roughly executed. But the problem was not Nixon's artistic ability. He was a good watercolour artist – see Identifying one of South Australia's Earliest Colonial Paintings | Bank of South Australia (in which he seems to give the middle finger) – and a good cartoonist – see South Australia 1841 : military sketches and cartoons [SLSA B 3241/1-18].
The problem was Nixon's unfamiliarity with engraving. This was his first (self-taught, self-manufactured) attempt. As such the set was probably overpriced at 21 shillings.
Nixon's separate drawing of Ridley's Reaping Machine saw further publication in June/July being included as a plate in "South Australia in 1844-45 ..." by Marcus Collison.
In London from April 1846, bookseller and publisher T. and W. Boone advertised the set of Nixon's Twelve Views for just six shillings at the back of Francis Dutton's "South Australia and its Mines...".
Nixon's controversial letter to the editor in June 18458 spoke of his familiarity and admiration of Gill's work. And Nixon's views have much in common with S.T. Gill, especially S.T. Gill's Series of Adelaide Views. There is a commonality in the views and one may well imagine the pair comparing notes. But it's also true that certain views were popular among artists, the most notable perhaps being the view of Port Adelaide from across the reach. (See S.T. Gill's Port Adelaide.)
The Twelve Views and the Reaping Machine prints are all available in Australian collections. But only one original work is identified – the watercolour of Adelaide viewed from the northwest. It is interesting to note James Allen used a picture of Klemzig for his lectures in England. Given Allen's criticism, it would be a surprise to find he used Nixon's print, but not implausible. Perhaps he used Angas' picture. See Klemzig, Angas, a German Hay Wagon and Chickens for an analysis of the Klemzig illustration.
Nixon left South Australia for good in May 1846. He sailed for Mauritius. One presumes he took his original view watercolours with him. And in the manner of those discovery journey shows ... that's where I have to go to next. (I wish ;-)
Listed here are the reaping machine, the twelve views, and the northwest view watercolour.
To see these works, with accompanying notes, just scroll down or jump to the List of Works.
Some references are included with the individual works below.
1. Southern Australian, 7 July 1838: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71684627>
2. Southern Australian, 28 July 1838: 4. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71684675>
3. Southern Australian, 10 November 1838: 4. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71684892>
4. South Australian Register, 28 January 1845: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27449285>
5. South Australian, 21 February 1845: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71600740>
6. Adelaide Observer 22 March 1845: 1. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158919884>
7. South Australian Register, 18 June 1845: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27450382>
8. South Australian, 17 June 1845: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71601839>
You can scroll down to see all pictures along with detailed notes or click a link to jump to a specific work from the list.
Detailed notes each include a link to the map location for the view where available.
Twelve Views in Adelaide and its Vicinity, South Australia (cover) | National Library of Australia U1211-U1222
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
"Twelve views in Adelaide and its Vicinity, South Australia / Drawn, Etched and Printed by F.R. Nixon" (cover). The bound volume containing 12 engraved plates was priced at one guinea.
568
Government House & part of N. Terrace, E. View | National Library of Australia U1211
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
The front of Government House (viewed from the ENE). The Governor's four-wheeled carriage is at the entrance. At left is the Government flagstaff and in the background is the Bank of South Australia (left), North Terrace. Also visible is a windmill – probably Phillips and Horne (acre 186) on the corner of Waymouth Street and West Terrace. In the foreground seems to be a kangaroo.
This is the exact same view as Gill's watercolour SLNSW-M PX*D 383 f.01, the only differences being the framing tree at right and minor foreground detal.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
498
Government Offices S. view | National Library of Australia U1212
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
This is a view of the Government Offices (acre 236) from across Flinders Street. The open four-wheel carriage and pair may belong to the Governor. At left is a street sign on the corner where King William Street leads (away) to the north. Background (right) has the old military barracks on Grenfell Street (acre 106).
This view is almost identical to Gill's wash drawing NLA NK2038/13 (Series of Adelaide Views). Nixon shows more of King William Street and adds the government flagstaff at the end.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
499
St John's Church | National Library of Australia U1213
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
St. John's Church (acre 581) Halifax-street near East Terrace looking south-east with the hills in the background. The open four-wheel carriage and pair likely belong to the Governor.
This print by Nixon is of a near identical view to Gill's NLA NK2038/25 (Series of Adelaide Views) but with a slightly more southerly angle. Unlike Gill, Nixon has chosen realism and shown all six side windows.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
504
Hindley Street | National Library of Australia U1214
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
Looking east along Hindley Street with the Mount Lofty Ranges in the background.
A very similar view to Gill's watercolour AGSA 0.944 but with added extent to the left to include Trinity Church and the Government flagstaff. Both pictures have the same building at right of picture.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
501
Hindley Street looking West | National Library of Australia U1215
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
A view from Rundle Street, across the King William Street intersection and away along Hindley Street. Nixon includes the Rundle Street business signs of White, Tailor; Robinson; and Bean, Leather.
With the exception of Robinson, these are all also identified in Gill's watercolour AGSA 0.647. However Gill's picture, although having the same title, is viewed from closer to the intersection.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
500
Part of Adelaide, from the N.W. | National Library of Australia U1217
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
A view from the northwest of the city of Adelaide across the grassed Park Lands with the Mount Lofty Ranges in the background. ("Mt. Lofty" is noted in Nixon's caption.) Buildings line the southern side of North Terrace. Trinity spire is the old one before it was removed for rebuilding in February 1845.
The engraving would have been based on Nixon's watercolour (NLA NK232). It's interesting to note he has omitted the soldiers.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
503
Adelaide seen from the N.W. | National Library of Australia NK232
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-01~
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
A view from the northwest of the city of Adelaide across the grassed Park Lands with the Mount Lofty Ranges in the background. Buildings line the southern side of North Terrace – Trinity Church standing out. On the near side of the road is the foot police station. At near right the soldiers march from the city to the gaol. A group of Aboriginal people view the scene.
Trinity spire is the old one before it was removed for rebuilding in February 1845, making this 1845 painting likely to be January.
Nixon would have used this watercolour as the basis for his engraving.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
488
The City Mill, S. View | National Library of Australia U1216
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
This is a view from the south of the City Mill on acre 464, Wright Street. The engraving is also captioned at lower left: "(Phillips' in the distance)" – referring to Phillips' mill. City Mill was the city of Adelaide's first windmill; Phillips (acre 186) was second.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
496
Frome Bridge | National Library of Australia U1218
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
Frome Bridge on the Torrens River opened on 18 August 1842. It was located on a bend opposite Pulteney Street.
This picture is very similar in composition to James Henderson's sketch (SLSA B 2434/11). Although similar to the many Gill pictures of Frome Bridge, this is not identical to any of them. Nixon's version lacks common Gill features such as the rocky ford below the bridge and the distinctive log from flood debris. At right, the open four-wheel carriage and pair likely belongs to the Governor.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
497
Flour Mill, Hackney | National Library of Australia U1219
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
This is the South Australian Company's (SAC) steam flour mill on the River Torrens. The mill was completed around July 1842 on SAC land (acre 256) growing wheat. It was let by SAC to John Ridley who also had a steam flour mill at Hindmarsh. SAC commenced building a bridge here in October 1844.
Gill takes a different view of the mill in NLA NK2038/27 (Series of Adelaide Views), which likely predates this one by Nixon.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
507
Klemzig (German Village on the Torrens) | National Library of Australia U1220
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
A view of the main street of Klemzig. Prominent in the scene are the buildings lining the street on both sides; the Lutheran church with its bell tower at left; a woman with milk pails in the foreground; and a German hay wagon with its bullock driver.
This is dated February 1845 by Nixon in the picture, though this is likely the date of engraving, rather than date of the scene.
Nixon displayed an early artistic interest in Klemzig which is only four miles from Adelaide and was the subject of his travel writing in 1842, identifying it as a prime artist's subject.
"Soon after leaving [Walkerville], you reach Klemzig – its name telling it is a German village. This again is another pretty spot, but wearing altogether a different aspect to that we have passed; nothing English here – even from the picturesque kirk down to the pony cart, all is different. In building the village, the people appear to have previously made a series of plans and sketches, by which their houses should be placed and formed; all is regular, and, at the same time, (though perhaps rather paradoxical,) extremely simple and picturesque. Again in the dress and looks of the people themselves, there is something certainly much more suited to a picture, or what an artist would select, than anything of the kind we might seek for among our own common-place commercial-looking countrymen. This is the same with their very carriages, their harness, their mode of driving..." ("South Australian Magazine", May-June 1842 issue. p.343-44. <https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1988478354/view?partId=nla.obj-1988496815#page/n38/mode/1up>)
The subject matter corresponds with James Allen's lecture 2, dissolving view 8.
Compared with Nixon's print the pencil sketch (NLA R6521) shifts its viewpoint to the right, omits a house at near left and adds half a house at right.
This view is almost identical to the one in Angas' Sketchbook No. 3 (NLA R6521). Philip Jones wrote Nixon's engraving "appears to be a direct copy of Angas's pencil drawing or finished watercolour of Klemzig" (Jones 2021, 96-99), but gives no reason for this opinion. See Klemzig, Angas, a German Hay Wagon and Chickens for a thorough analysis and refutation.
Reference. Jones, Philip G. and Angas, George French. and National Library of Australia, issuing body. and South Australian Museum, issuing body. Illustrating the Antipodes : George French Angas in Australia & New Zealand, 1844-1845 / Philip Jones. NLA Publishing, Canberra ACT. South Australian Museum, Adelaide SA. 2021
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide District
502
The Plains from Glen Osmond Mine ([windmill] Adelaide) | National Library of Australia U1221
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
A view of the Adelaide Plains. Although Adelaide and the Port can't be made out in the image, Nixon uses windmill icon to indicate the edge of Adelaide.
A similar view to Gill's plate in Dutton (1846): "The Adelaide Plains: Taken from Wheal Watkins Lead Mine".
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide District
505
The Port | National Library of Australia U1222
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-02~/1845-03-22
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
A view generally south-east across Gawler Reach / Hindmarsh Reach to Port Adelaide. The Mount Lofty Ranges are in the background. Prominent are the South Australian Company stores (McLaren warehouse, left) and the Customs House (right). Between them are the flagstaff and the canal beside Queen's Wharf. On the river side of the Customs House are the Queen's wharf warehouses. (The confiscated French ship "Ville de Bordeaux" is not in view and would be to the right of the picture's extent.)
Map | S. T. Gill - Port Adelaide
481
Ridley's Reaping Machine, S. Australia | Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales DSM/983/C
Artist: Nixon, F.R. | Date: 1845-03~
Main listing: F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845
John Ridley built his reaping machine in 1843. He had constructed eight such machines by the end of 1844.
This is the only plate in COLLISSON, Marcus - "South Australia in 1844-45 ..." <https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/74Vvgk337yMM>
519
David Coombe, October 2021. Updated 13 August 2025. | text copyright (except where indicated).
CITE THIS: David Coombe, 2021-2025, F.R. Nixon's Twelve Views, &c., 1845, accessed dd mmm yyyy, <https://coombe.id.au/1840s_South_Australia/F_R_Nixon's_Twelve_Views_etc_1845.htm>