March 22

John Ainsworth Horrocks was a pioneering mid-19th-century explorer and settler in South Australia. Arriving from England, he undertook expeditions into the arid interior, seeking new pastoral lands. In 1839, Horrocks established the village of Penwortham on the Light River, promoting agricultural development in the region. His journeys were marked by both discovery and hardship, culminating in a fatal shooting accident during an exploration near Lake Torrens. Horrocks's efforts opened the door for subsequent explorers and settlers, and his name lives on in South Australian geography. His adventurous spirit and determination exemplify the challenges of colonial exploration.