in 1838 gawler was appointed governor of south australia in succession to captain john hindmarsh, who had been recalled, as well as being appointed to the role of resident commissioner, taking over from the first incumbent, james hurtle fisher. gawler and his wife and children arrived on the "pestonjee bomanjee" on 12 october 1838, after a four-month journey via tenerife and rio de janeiro. gawler found the colony had almost no public finances, underpaid officials and 4000 immigrants living in makeshift accommodation. he was allowed a maximum of £12,000 expenditure a year, with an additional £5,000 credit for emergencies.