Johann Menge

Johannes Menge (4 January 1788 – 1852), is regarded as South Australia's first geologist, though he had no formal qualifications. An early explorer of the new colony, he was influential in the settlement of the Barossa Valley.

He has been called the "father of South Australian mineralogy".[1] On the passenger list of the ship that brought him out he was called "Johannes Joseph Menge", but in his letters to newspapers he variously called himself "John"[2] and "Joseph".[3] To fellow-colonists he was "Professor Menge".[4]

  1. ^ "The Discoverer of the Para Rivers". The Bunyip. 16 October 1936. p. 10. Retrieved 22 November 2019 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Geology of South Australia". South Australian Register. 30 May 1840. p. 7. Retrieved 23 November 2019 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Geology of South Australia". South Australian Register. 23 November 1839. p. 6. Retrieved 23 November 2019 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "The Schoolmaster Abroad". South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal. 26 February 1848. p. 3. Retrieved 23 November 2019 – via Trove.