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South Australian Company

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Not to be confused with South Australian Land Company or South Australian Association.

The South Australian Company, also referred to as the South Australia Company, was formed in London on 9 October 1835, after the South Australia (Foundation) Act 1834 had established the new British Province of South Australia, with the South Australian Colonization Commission set up to oversee implementation of the Act.

The South Australian Company was a commercial enterprise, and not officially connected to the British Government or the Colonization Commission, but turned out to be indispensable in allowing emigration to the new colony to begin. The founding board of the company, headed by George Fife Angas, consisted of wealthy British merchants, with the purpose of developing a new settlement in South Australia, building a new colony by meeting an essential financial obligations of the South Australia Act 1834. It bought up unsold land to the level required by the Act for emigration to be allowed to begin.

During the first years of settlement, the company built a great deal of infrastructure and contributed to the creation of industries such as fishing and mining, and it continued to play an important part in the business affairs of the colony (and later state) of South Australia for over a hundred years. It ended business in its own right on 17 March 1949, when it was liquidated by Elders Trustee & Executor Company Ltd. Many streets in Adelaide were named after men associated with the company.

Background

The South Australian Association (1833–1834) had lobbied the British Government for years to set up a new colony in southern Australia. The members of the Association were men of varied backgrounds, from philanthropists to merchants, including Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Robert Gouger, Robert Torrens Sr and George Fife Angas. The Association underwent numerous negotiations and submitted and resubmitted many plans, until the British Parliament finally gave approval and passed the South Australia Act 1834 on 15 August 1834. The Association's original plan was for the colony to be more or less independent, but the government thought otherwise; a Governor would represent the Crown (British Government), and would share administration of the new colony with the London-based South Australian Colonization Commission, which would be represented in the colony by a Resident Commissioner, Surveyor-General, and various other officers. The new Act also required that a certain amount of land had to be sold in the colony before anybody was allowed to emigrate.[1]

History of the company

Foundation

George Fife Angas, after resigning from the Association, offered to set up a company to buy up the remaining unsold land, which was agreed by the Colonisation Commissioners, so long as this new company, the South Australian Company, did not attempt to set up monopolies in the colony.[1]

The founding Board of Directors of the South Australian Company, established on 9 October 1835, were Angas as Chairman; Raikes Currie; Charles Hindley MP; James Hyde; Henry Kingscote; John Pirie, Alderman; Christopher Rawson; John Rundle MP; Thomas Smith; James Ruddell Todd; and Henry Waymouth; with Edmund John Wheeler (Manager); Samuel Stephens, (Colonial Manager); and Edward Hill (Secretary pro tem).[2]

The original purpose of the company was to help prospective colonists meet the obligations set out in the South Australia Act 1834.[3] The United Kingdom did not want the "province" to be a financial burden, like other colonies, and imposed certain conditions through the Act. One of these conditions was the sale of real property (land) to the value of £35,000. Each director was required to buy at least £2,500 in shares in the company. The biggest sales in land carried out by the company were done in the names of Angas,[3][4] who purchased 102 lots of land of 135 acres (55 ha) on behalf of the company, which included prime real estate in both town and country, totalling 13,770 acres (5,570 ha), and with the right to rent an additional 220,160 acres (89,100 ha) of pasturage (worth £40,000),[1] and the Currie family, who purchased £9,000. Research published in 2018 and 2019 concluded that these sales and the creation of company, which secured the establishment of South Australia, link the colony's creation with slavery in the British West Indies.[3][4]

It was this purchase of land that enabled emigration to commence. It was purely a commercial venture, but without it, the colonisation plan would not have come to fruition.[1]

First Fleet of South Australia (1836)

Further information: First Fleet of South Australia

After a historic meeting at Exeter Hall on 30 June 1834, where the principles, objects, plan and prospects of the new Colony of South Australia were explained to the public, hundreds of enquiries from prospective emigrants arrived at the South Australian Association's headquarters in London.[5]

In January 1836 four ships sailed from England on behalf of the Company, ahead of the Colonisation Commission's planned expedition. They developed a settlement at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, in July 1836, but when farming proved unviable, both the settlement and the Company's operations were moved to the mainland. The Company provided basic infrastructure for the new colony and sold or leased land to immigrants who came to settle.[1]

Over the course of six months, nine ships, which may be termed the First Fleet of South Australia, arrived in the new colony:[6]

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

Post-settlement

During the first years of settlement, the company undertook the construction of a great deal of infrastructure: roads, bridges, mills, wharfs and warehouses. It contributed to the creation of the whaling, fishing and shipbuilding industries and encouraged mineral exploration. There was, however, a financial slump, or Depression, in the 1840s, and company dividends were unable to be paid out until 1848, after copper was discovered at Burra.[1]

The company continued to be an important part of the business affairs of Adelaide and the colony (later state) for over a hundred years.[1]

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.

It was wound up on 17 March 1949, with the management of its remaining business transferred to Elders Trustee & Executor Company Ltd.[1]

Lists of people

Colonial Managers

The Colonial Managers of the South Australian Company were:

Manager
 From
 To
 Notes
Samuel Stephens 1836 1837 [7]
David McLaren 1837 1841 [8]
William Giles 1841 1861 [9]
William John Brind 1861 1894 [10][11]
Henry Yorke Sparks 1894 1900 [12][13]
Henry Percival Moore 1901 1929 [14][15]
Arthur Leopold Albert Muller 1930 1936 [16][17]
(none) 1936 1949 [18]

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 [34]
  • 1911–1930+ Henry Brandreth Gibbs F.C.I.S.[35]
Attorneys in South Australia
Local Board of Advice, Adelaide
Accountants

Others associated with the company

Most of the major streets in the Adelaide city centre were named after the founding directors of the company. Naming of the settlements streets was completed on 23 May 1837 and gazetted on 3 June by the Street Naming Committee (Adelaide).

Who Association Streets Notes
George Fife Angas (1789–1879) Commissioner Angas Street
Raikes Currie (1801–1881) Founding director Currie Street
Divett, Edward Trustee Divett Place
Sir James Hurtle Fisher (1790–1875) Resident Commissioner (#1) Hurtle Square [43]
Fussell, John Trustee Took over from Henry Waymouth after his death in January 1848.[44]
George Gawler (1795–1869) Governor of SA (1838–1841) Gawler Place Gawler (town), Gawler Ranges, etc.[45]
William Giles (1791–1862) Colonial Manager (1841–1860) [9]
Robert Gouger (1802–1846) Colonial Secretary (#1) Gouger Street [46]
Pascoe St Leger Grenfell (1798–1879) South Australian Church Society Grenfell Street
Sir George Grey (1812–1898) Governor of SA (1841–1845) [47]
Charles Hindley Founding director Hindley Street [2]
Sir John Hindmarsh (1785–1860) Governor of SA (1836–1838) Hindmarsh Square [48]
William Hutt Commissioner Hutt Street
Henry Kingscote Founding Director Kingscote, Kangaroo Island[2]
Sir George Strickland Kingston (1807–1880) Deputy Surveyor General Kingston SE[49]
William Light (1786–1839) Surveyor General Light Square [50]
David McLaren (1785–1850) Colonial Manager (1837–1841) [8]
Moore, Henry Percival Colonial Manager (1901–1929) [14][15]
Sir John Morphett (1809–1892) Land Agent Morphett Street [51]
Muller, Arthur Leopold Albert Colonial Manager (1930–1936) [16][17]
Sir John Pirie Founding director Pirie Street [2]
Rawson, Christopher Founding director [2]
Frederick Robe (1801–1871) Governor of SA (1845–1848) Robe, South Australia[52]
John Rundle Founding director Rundle Street [2]
Smith, Thomas Founding director [2]
Sparks, Henry Yorke Colonial Manager (1894–1900) [11][12][13]
Edward Stephens (1811–1861) First manager of SA Banking Co [53]
Samuel Stephens (1808–1840) Colonial Manager (1836–1837) [7]
Todd, James Ruddell Founding director [2]
Robert Torrens (1780–1864) Commissioner River Torrens[54]
Daniel Bell Wakefield (1798–1858) Drafted the bill that became the founding act Wakefield Street [55]
Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796–1862) Early proposer of colonisation [56]
Henry Waymouth (1791–1848) Founding director Waymouth Street [2]
William Wolryche-Whitmore South Australian Church Society Whitmore Square
Sir Henry Edward Fox Young (1803–1870) Governor of SA (1848–1854) [57]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "South Australian Company". SA Memory. State Library of South Australia. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The South Australian Company". South Australian Gazette And Colonial Register. South Australia. 18 June 1836. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b c Coventry, C. J. (2019). "Links in the Chain: British slavery, Victoria and South Australia". Before/Now. 1 (1): 37–39. doi:10.17613/d8ht-p058.
  4. ^ a b McQueen, Humphrey (2018). "Chapter 4: Born free : wage-slaves and chattel-slaves". In Collins, Carolyn; Sendziuk, Paul (eds.). Foundational Fictions in South Australian History. Wakefield Press. pp. 43–63. ISBN 9781743056066.
  5. ^ "Brief History: Colony built on a dream". Exploring Adelaide. Tourist Information Distributors Australia. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Majority of the Colony of South Australia". South Australian Register. Vol. XXII, no. 3509. 5 January 1858. p. 3. Retrieved 9 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ a b Stephens, Samuel (1808-1840), Australian Dictionary of Biography online retrieved 1 July 2011
  8. ^ a b McLaren, David (1785-1850) Australian Dictionary of Biography online retrieved 2 July 2011
  9. ^ a b Tregenza, John (1966). "Giles, William (1791-1862)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  10. ^ William John Brind SA Memory
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b Death of Mr. H. Y. Sparks South Australian Register 22 October 1900 p.4
  13. ^ a b Death of H. Y. Sparks The Advertiser 22 October 1900 p.5 – Includes biography
  14. ^ a b Personal The Advertiser 6 December 1913 p.19 (Henry Percival Moore)
  15. ^ a b Personal The Advertiser 11 January 1901 p.5 – Includes brief biography of Henry Percival Moore
  16. ^ a b New Manager – South Australian Company The Mail 28 December 1929 p.3 – Includes brief biography of Arthur L. A. Muller
  17. ^ a b Obituary – Mr Arthur L. A. Muller The Advertiser 10 March 1936 p.21
  18. ^ "Ending Of Famous S.A. Company". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 91, no. 28135. South Australia. 9 December 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ Angas, George Fife (1789–1879), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  20. ^ "South Australian Company: George Fife Angas".
  21. ^ The Globe - 03 June 1886 p.5
  22. ^ Leeds Mercury - Friday 08 June 1888 p.7
  23. ^ The Globe - 06 June 1889 p.5
  24. ^ Adelaide Observer - 17 July 1897 p.39
  25. ^ Dundee Courier - Thursday 09 June 1898 p.2
  26. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/brg/42/122/BRG42_122_1.htm Joslin, Henry, 1839-1927
  27. ^ "Family Notices". South Australian Register. Vol. XII, no. 841. South Australia. 7 June 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_1.htm Clarke, Stanley, Sir, d.1911
  29. ^ 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
  30. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_3.htm Johnston, Andrew, d.1922
  31. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_4.htm Grant, John Henry
  32. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_5.htm Hodge, R.H. Hermon, Sir
  33. ^ 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
  34. ^ http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/07500/B7334_6.htm Hutchison, James
  35. ^ "South Australian Company: Henry Brandreth Gibbs".
  36. ^ a b "South Australian Company: William Bartley".
  37. ^ "South Australian Company: Sir Samuel Davenport".
  38. ^ a b "South Australian Company: John Warren Bakewell".
  39. ^ "South Australian Company: William Bakewell".
  40. ^ "South Australian Company: Joseph Fisher".
  41. ^ "South Australian Company: Sir John Lancelot Stirling".
  42. ^ "South Australian Company: Edward Robert Simpson".
  43. ^ Fisher, Sir James Hurtle (1790–1875), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  44. ^ "South Australian Company". South Australian Register. Vol. XII, no. 881. South Australia. 25 October 1848. p. 3. Retrieved 2 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ Gawler, George (1795–1869), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  46. ^ Gouger, Robert (1802–1846), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  47. ^ Grey, Sir George (1812–1898), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  48. ^ Hindmarsh, Sir John (1785–1860), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  49. ^ Kingston, Sir George Strickland (1807–1880), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  50. ^ Light, William (1786–1839), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  51. ^ Morphett, Sir John (1809–1892), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  52. ^ E. J. R. Morgan (1967). Robe, Frederick Holt (1802–1871). Melbourne University Press. pp. 383–384. Retrieved 18 September 2011. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  53. ^ Stephens, Edward (1811–1861), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  54. ^ Torrens, Robert (1780–1864), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  55. ^ "Streets of Adelaide and North Adelaide" (PDF). State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  56. ^ Wakefield, Edward Gibbon (1796–1862), Australian Dictionary of Biography online
  57. ^ H. J. Gibbney (1976). Young, Sir Henry Edward Fox (1803–1870). Melbourne University Press. pp. 452–453. Retrieved 18 September 2011. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

Further reading

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