 The Whig government in 1834 passed an Act authorising the establishment of the British Province of South Australia, but the planning and initial sales of land proceeded without Wakefield's involvement because of the illness and death of his daughter.Land in the town of Adelaide was offered at £1 an acre on maps showing town and country sites—though the area was still little more than a sandhill—but sales were poor.In March 1836 a survey party sailed for South Australia and the first emigrants followed four months later.