City of Port Lincoln History Port Lincoln was discovered by Matthew Flinders under his commission by the British Admiralty to chart Australia's unexplored coastline. The converted collier Investigator dropped anchor in Boston Bay on February 21; 1802 and Flinders named the spot Port Lincoln after his native Lincolnshire in England. Only several days earlier Flinders lost eight seamen near Memory Cove, including his sailing master, Captain John Thistle, whilst searching for water. Port Lincoln was initially considered as the alternative site for the State's Capital, but was subsequently rejected by Colonel Light in 1836 in favour of Adelaide. Lack of fresh water supplies was a major determining factor. The First Settlers arrived in March 1839 aboard the Abeona, the Dorset and the Porter. There is an historic plaque at the First Landing site to commemorate the event. Located at the bottom of Eyre Peninsula, Home of the largest fishing fleet in the Southern hemisphere including the Blue Fin Tuna fleet. Also a major sea port for grain exports. Current population (2009) 14,000.