Deputy Surveyor, South Australia Colony
Kingston was appointed deputy surveyor general to the new colony and sailed with most of the surveying party in the Cygnet in March 1836. Because he detoured to Rio de Janeiro for supplies the Cygnet did not arrive at Nepean Bay until 11 September 1836, nearly a month after Colonel William Light, who was therefore left short-handed at a critical time. However it was Kingston with John Morphett and Lieutenant W.G. Field who discovered the River Torrens, and the surveys of the city site were largely carried out under Kingston's supervision. The balance of credit due to Light or Strickland in surveying the city of Adelaide has often been discussed.
Kingston's ability as a surveyor was frequently questioned and it was he who was spared to return to England in August 1837 to ask for reinforcements for the Survey Department. The colonization commissioners sent him back next June with orders unpalatable to Light, who resigned with all his staff. Kingston proceeded with the country surveys almost single-handed but, soon after Governor George Gawler's arrival in October 1838, he resigned.
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