South Australian Company

      The South Australian Company was formed in London on 9 October 1835 by George Fife Angas and other wealthy British merchants to develop a new settlement in South Australia; its purpose was to build a new colony. The South Australian Company ended business in its own right on 17 March 1949 when its management was transferred to Elders Trustee & Executor Company Ltd.[1]

      Foundation

      The formation of the company followed considerable lobbying by the South Australian Association, a group consisting of philanthropists, radical thinkers, dissenters and merchants. After a years of negotiation, false starts, changes and amendments to suggested charters, the British Parliament finally gave approval and passed the South Australian (Foundation) Act on 15 August 1834.[2]

      The founding Board of directors were George Fife Angas (Chairman); Raikes Currie; Charles Hindley M.P.; James Hyde; Henry Kingscote; John Pirie, Alderman; Christopher Rawson; John Rundle M.P.; Thomas Smith; James Ruddell Todd; and Henry Waymouth; with Edmund John Wheeler, Manager; Samuel Stephens, Colonial Manager; and Edward Hill, Secretary pro tem,[3]

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      Arrivals of 1836

      In January 1836 four ships sailed from England on behalf of the Company. They developed a settlement at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, in July 1836, but when farming proved unviable, they transferred their settlement to the mainland. The Company provided basic infrastructure for the new colony, as well as sold or leased land to immigrants who came to settle.

      27 July Duke of York (190 ton) S.A. Company 38 passengers
      30 July Lady Mary Pelham (206 ton) S.A. Company 29
      16 August John Pirie (105 ton) S.A. Company 28
      21 August Rapid (162 ton) Commissioners 24
      11 September Cygnet (239 ton) Commissioners 84
      5 October Emma (181 ton) S.A. Company 22
      2 November L'Africaine (316 ton) Various 76
      16 December Tam O'Shanter (360 ton) O. Gilles 74
      23 December HMS Buffalo (850 ton) Commissioners 171[4]
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      The Commissioners

      Under the Acts that established the Colony, the UK government appointed Commissioners to oversee implementation of the Acts; Thirteen based in London with a Resident Commissioner stationed in the colony. Those first appointed were Colonel Robert Torrens (Chairman), Rowland Hill (Secretary), G. Barnes (Treasurer), George Fife Angas, E. Barnard, William Hutt, J. G. Shaw-Lefevre, W. A. Mackinnon M.P., S. Mills, Jacob Montefiore, G. Palmer, and J. Wright. The first Resident Commissioner was James Hurtle Fisher.[4]

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      Colonial Managers

      The Colonial Managers ("CEOs" in South Australia) of the South Australian Company were:

      Manager
      		 From
      		 To
      		 Notes
      Stephens, SamuelSamuel Stephens 1836 1837 [5]
      McLaren, DavidDavid McLaren 1837 1841 [6]
      Giles, WilliamWilliam Giles 1841 1861 [7]
      Brind, William JohnWilliam John Brind 1861 1894 [8][9]
      Sparks, Henry YorkeHenry Yorke Sparks 1894 1900 [10][11]
      Moore, Henry PercivalHenry Percival Moore 1901 1929 [12][13]
      Muller, Arthur Leopold AlbertArthur Leopold Albert Muller 1930 1936 [14][15]
       ? 1936 1949
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      Officers of the company

      Most of the major streets in the Adelaide city centre were named after the founding directors of the company

      Chairmen
      Directors
      Company Secretaries
      • 1878-1911 James Hutchison [25]
      • 1911-1930+ Henry Brandreth Gibbs F.C.I.S.[26]
      Attorneys in South Australia
      Local Board of Advice, Adelaide
      Accountants
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      Company offices

      From 1872, the South Australian Company occupied offices on North Terrace on the corner of Gawler Place. The new building, "Gawler Chambers", was completed in 1914.

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      List of people associated with the South Australian Company

      Most of the major streets in the Adelaide city centre were named after the founding directors of the company

      Who Association Streets Notes
      Angas, George FifeGeorge Fife Angas Commissioner Angas Street
      Divett, Edward Trustee Divett Place
      Fisher, Sir James HurtleSir James Hurtle Fisher (1790–1875) Resident Commissioner (#1) Hurtle Square [34]
      Fussell, John Trustee
      Gawler, GeorgeGeorge Gawler (1795–1869) Governor of SA (1838-1841) Gawler Place Gawler (town), Gawler Ranges, etc. Refer Gawler (disambiguation)[35]
      Giles, WilliamWilliam Giles (1791–1862) Colonial Manager (1841-1860) [7]
      Gouger, RobertRobert Gouger (1802–1846) Colonial secretary (#1) Gouger Street [36]
      Grenfell, Pascoe St LegerPascoe St Leger Grenfell MP Grenfell Street
      Grey, Sir GeorgeSir George Grey (1812–1898) Governor of SA (1841-1845) [37]
      Hindley, CharlesCharles Hindley Founding director Hindley Street [3]
      Hindmarsh, Sir JohnSir John Hindmarsh (1785–1860) Governor of SA (1836-1838) Hindmarsh Square [38]
      Hutt, WilliamWilliam Hutt Commissioner Hutt Street
      Kingscote, Henry Founding Director Kingscote, Kangaroo Island[3]
      Kingston, Sir George StricklandSir George Strickland Kingston (1807–1880) Deputy Surveyor General [39]
      Light, WilliamWilliam Light (1786–1839) Surveyor General Light Square [40]
      McLaren, DavidDavid McLaren (1785–1850) Colonial Manager (1837-1841) [6]
      Moore, Henry Percival Colonial Manager (1901-1929) [12][13]
      Morphett, Sir JohnSir John Morphett (1809–1892) Morphett Street [41]
      Muller, Arthur Leopold Albert Colonial Manager (1930-1936) [14][15]
      Pirie, Sir JohnSir John Pirie Founding director Pirie Street [3]
      Rawson, Christopher Founding director [3]
      Robe, FrederickFrederick Robe (1801-1871) Governor of SA (1845-1848) Robe, South Australia[42]
      Rundle, JohnJohn Rundle Founding director Rundle Street [3]
      Smith, Thomas Founding director [3]
      Sparks, Henry Yorke Colonial Manager (1894-1900) [9][10][11]
      Stephens, EdwardEdward Stephens (1811–1861) First manager of SA Banking Co [43]
      Stephens, SamuelSamuel Stephens (1808–1840) Colonial Manager (1836-1837) [5]
      Todd, James Ruddell Founding director [3]
      Torrens, RobertRobert Torrens (1780–1864) Commissioner [44]
      Wakefield, Edward GibbonEdward Gibbon Wakefield (1796–1862) Wakefield Street [45]
      Waymouth, HenryHenry Waymouth Founding director Waymouth Street [3]
      Young, Sir Henry Edward FoxSir Henry Edward Fox Young (1803-1870) Governor of SA (1848-1854) [46]
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      References

      1. ^ Our history, Australian Executor Trustees
      2. ^ History of the South Australian Company, SA Memory
      3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The South Australian Company South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register 18 June 1836 p.6
      4. ^ a b Majority of the Colony of South Australia South Australian Register 5 January 1858 p.3 accessed 2 July 2011
      5. ^ a b Stephens, Samuel (1808-1840), Australian Dictionary of Biography online retrieved 1 July 2011
      6. ^ a b McLaren, David (1785-1850) Australian Dictionary of Biography online retrieved 2 July 2011
      7. ^ a b Tregenza, John (1966). "Giles, William (1791-1862)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 2008-02-24. 
      8. ^ William John Brind SA Memory
      9. ^ a b 'The South Australian Company' The Adelaide Observer 7 July 1894, p.14 col. E.
        Resignation of Mr. W.J. Brind and appointment of Mr. H.Y. Sparks as Manager; biographical sketch of Henry Yorke Sparks.
      10. ^ a b Death of Mr. H. Y. Sparks South Australian Register 22 October 1900 p.4
      11. ^ a b Death of H. Y. Sparks The Advertiser 22 October 1900 p.5 - Includes biography
      12. ^ a b Personal The Advertiser 6 December 1913 p.19 (Henry Percival Moore)
      13. ^ a b Personal The Advertiser 11 January 1901 p.5 - Includes brief biography of Henry Percival Moore
      14. ^ a b New Manager - South Australian Company The Mail 28 December 1929 p.3 - Includes brief biography of Arthur L. A. Muller
      15. ^ a b Obituary - Mr Arthur L. A. Muller The Advertiser 10 March 1936 p.21
      16. ^ Angas, George Fife (1789–1879), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      17. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/brg/42/122/BRG42_122_17.htm
      18. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/brg/42/122/BRG42_122_1.htm Joslin, Henry, 1839-1927
      19. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_1.htm Clarke, Stanley, Sir, d.1911
      20. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_2.htm & http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/brg/42/122/BRG42_122_3.htm Kennaway, John H., Sir, d.1919
      21. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_3.htm Johnston, Andrew, d.1922
      22. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_4.htm Grant, John Henry
      23. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_5.htm Hodge, R.H. Hermon, Sir
      24. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_13.htm & http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/36500/B36432.htm Barr Smith, Thomas Elder, 1863-1941
      25. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_6.htm Hutchison, James
      26. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_7.htm
      27. ^ a b http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_28.htm
      28. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_9.htm
      29. ^ a b http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_10.htm
      30. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_14.htm
      31. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_11.htm
      32. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_12.htm
      33. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_29.htm
      34. ^ Fisher, Sir James Hurtle (1790–1875), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      35. ^ Gawler, George (1795–1869), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      36. ^ Gouger, Robert (1802–1846), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      37. ^ Grey, Sir George (1812–1898), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      38. ^ Hindmarsh, Sir John (1785–1860), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      39. ^ Kingston, Sir George Strickland (1807–1880), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      40. ^ Light, William (1786–1839), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      41. ^ Morphett, Sir John (1809–1892), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      42. ^ E. J. R. Morgan (1967). "Robe, Frederick Holt (1802-1871)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2. MUP. pp. 383–384. Retrieved 18 Sept 2011. 
      43. ^ Stephens, Edward (1811–1861), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      44. ^ Torrens, Robert (1780–1864), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      45. ^ Wakefield, Edward Gibbon (1796–1862), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
      46. ^ H. J. Gibbney (1976). "Young, Sir Henry Edward Fox (1803-1870)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6. MUP. pp. 452–453. Retrieved 18 Sept 2011. 
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      Further reading

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      External links

      • Copyright photo of a South Australian Company promisary note for sixpence, issue Kingscote, 1 June 1836, signed by Samuel Stephens
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      Last modified on 4 June 2013, at 11:46