Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor used to be spelt "Harbour" but in 1921 it was changed to "Harbor". "Victor Harbour" is the preferred term, based on the assumption that most collection items relate to the First World War, while "Victor Harbor" is to be used for post-1921 items..

The following information is from the State Library of South Australia website. Originally the name was "Victoria" Harbour but it was changed by the Captain Richard Crozier of HMS Victor when he called it Port Victor when surveying the environs in 1837. Governor Gawler named it Victor Harbor in 1838 but as time went on it became known as 'Port Victor' until 1921, when it reverted to Victor Harbor.
In 1915 a proclamation was issued altering the boundaries of the port. The intention of the Harbors Board was that, at the time, the name should be changed to Victor Harbor, but in the drafting of the proclamation this was overlooked.

On 2 January 1921 the French barque Eugene Schneider narrowly escaped shipwreck at Port Victoria. Her master had been given orders to proceed to Port Victor but, confused by the similarity of the names, took his vessel to Port Victoria, where he struck the Eclipse Reef . The change to Victor Harbor was subsequently effected.