Edwin Thomas Smith
Encyclopedia
Sir Edwin Thomas Smith KCMG (6 April 1830 – 25 December 1919) was an English
-born South Australia
n brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and benefactor.
, Staffordshire
, England
, the son of Edwin Smith. He was educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School
, Walsall
, and on leaving school had business experience with an uncle. When only 20 years of age Smith was taking part in local politics.
aboard the California and began business as an importer of ironmongery at Adelaide
.
On 25 June 1857 he married Florence, daughter of Robert Stock of Clifton, England. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Florence died in 1862.
. The malt towers of the brewey have now been turned into luxury appartments overlooking the Adelaide Park Lands
and Adelaide city centre
. In 1888 he amalgamated his business with that of William Knox Simms to form the South Australian Brewing Company.
of Kensington and Norwood, 1867–70, and 1871–73, and then was elected to the Adelaide City Council. He served three terms as Mayor of Adelaide in 1879–82, 1886-87 and 1887-88.
In the city council he was always anxious to improve the city and it was a result of his advocacy that Adelaide had its first tramways, King William Street
was extended, and the Torrens Lake formed.
, and except for a year while he was visiting England, continued to represent this constituency until he retired in 1893. Though an active member of parliament he was not anxious for office, and only once was included in a government; he was Minister for Education in the Bray
ministry from March to June 1884. He was, however, responsible for some useful legislation including a first offenders act, and he took a leading part in the promotion of the Jubilee International Exhibition of 1887-88. For this and his other services to the colony he was knighted (KCMG) in 1888.
In 1894 he gave the city a bronze statue of Queen Victoria, which was placed in the geographic centre of Adelaide
in the centre of Victoria Square
.
as member for Southern Districts in 1894 and remained a member until 1902. During the whole of his parliamentary experience he never lost an election.
. He was an active worker in the management of the blind, deaf and dumb institution, the Adelaide hospital, the old colonists association, the Elder workmen's homes, the botanic gardens, and the zoological gardens. He was a patron or office-bearer in every important Adelaide sporting organisation, was president of the South Australian Cricket Association
for about 30 years, and during that period seldom missed a committee meeting. His public benefactions were many and included £2,000 to clear the debt off the Norwood Oval
, £2,000 for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution, £1,000 to start an insurance fund for the Commercial Travellers' Association, and many other private benefactions. Without any pretensions to oratory or great learning, but with an excellent conception of what would be worthwhile and feasible, Smith laboured all his life for the good of his community.
Smith died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 25 December 1919 at his home, "The Acacias", in the eastern Adelaide
suburb of Marryatville
. He married twice, first in 1857 to Florence Stock, who died in 1862, and second in 1869 to Elizabeth Spicer, who died in 1911. He was survived by a son and a daughter of the first marriage.
decided in December 2005 to set up a "Hall of Fame", Smith was appointed one of the 10 non-playing inaugural members. "Sir Edwin Thomas Smith was patron of Norwood from the club’s first day in 1878 until his last, Christmas Day 1919". "More than any other individual, Sir Edwin ensured that the club built its early sporting life on solid foundations".
Marryatville
became Loreto Convent, then later Loreto College.
Sir Edwin Smith bought the property in 1878 and added extensively to it.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and benefactor.
Early years
Smith was born on 6 April 1830 at WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Edwin Smith. He was educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School
Queen Mary's Grammar School
Queen Mary's Grammar School is a selective grammar school located in Sutton Road, Walsall, England, about a mile from the town centre.-Admissions:...
, Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, and on leaving school had business experience with an uncle. When only 20 years of age Smith was taking part in local politics.
Emigration
In 1853 Smith emigrated to South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
aboard the California and began business as an importer of ironmongery at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
On 25 June 1857 he married Florence, daughter of Robert Stock of Clifton, England. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Florence died in 1862.
Brewer
In 1860 he went into partnership with Edward Logue of the Old Kent Brewery. When Logue died in 1865, Smith successfully continued the business. In 1876 he moved the business to the Kent Town Brewery at the eastern end of Rundle RoadRundle Street, Adelaide
Rundle Street is a street in the East End of Adelaide, South Australia. It runs from Pulteney Street in the west to East Terrace, where it becomes Rundle Road. Its former western extent, which ran to King William Street, was closed in 1972 to form the pedestrian street of Rundle Mall...
. The malt towers of the brewey have now been turned into luxury appartments overlooking the Adelaide Park Lands
Adelaide Park Lands
The Adelaide Park Lands are the parks that surround the centre of the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. They measure approximately 7.6 square kilometres in a green belt encircling the city centre....
and Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
. In 1888 he amalgamated his business with that of William Knox Simms to form the South Australian Brewing Company.
Local Government
He took part in municipal government, was MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kensington and Norwood, 1867–70, and 1871–73, and then was elected to the Adelaide City Council. He served three terms as Mayor of Adelaide in 1879–82, 1886-87 and 1887-88.
In the city council he was always anxious to improve the city and it was a result of his advocacy that Adelaide had its first tramways, King William Street
King William Street, Adelaide
King William Street is the part of a major arterial road that traverses the CBD and centre of Adelaide . It was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after King William IV, the then reigning monarch, who died within a month...
was extended, and the Torrens Lake formed.
Member of the House of Assembly
Smith entered parliament in 1871 as member for East Torrens in the South Australian House of AssemblySouth Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
, and except for a year while he was visiting England, continued to represent this constituency until he retired in 1893. Though an active member of parliament he was not anxious for office, and only once was included in a government; he was Minister for Education in the Bray
John Cox Bray
Sir John Cox Bray KCMG JP was a prominent South Australian politician and the first native-born Premier of South Australia .-Early life:...
ministry from March to June 1884. He was, however, responsible for some useful legislation including a first offenders act, and he took a leading part in the promotion of the Jubilee International Exhibition of 1887-88. For this and his other services to the colony he was knighted (KCMG) in 1888.
In 1894 he gave the city a bronze statue of Queen Victoria, which was placed in the geographic centre of Adelaide
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
in the centre of Victoria Square
Victoria Square, Adelaide
Victoria Square is a public square in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The square is in the centre of the city's grid of one square mile, and was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after Princess Victoria, heir presumptive of the British throne. Less than a month later the...
.
Member of the Legislative Council
Smith was elected to the South Australian Legislative CouncilSouth Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
as member for Southern Districts in 1894 and remained a member until 1902. During the whole of his parliamentary experience he never lost an election.
Retirement
Smith retired from the active conduct of his business in 1888, and retired from parliament in 1902. In retirement he took a great interest in a large number of institutions, to many of which he gave both time and money. He was chairman of the national park commissioners, and a trustee of the Savings Bank of South AustraliaSavings Bank of South Australia
The Savings Bank of South Australia was founded in 1848, trading from a single room in Gawler Place, Adelaide. In 1984 it merged with the State Bank of South Australia, with the merged entity taking the latter name...
. He was an active worker in the management of the blind, deaf and dumb institution, the Adelaide hospital, the old colonists association, the Elder workmen's homes, the botanic gardens, and the zoological gardens. He was a patron or office-bearer in every important Adelaide sporting organisation, was president of the South Australian Cricket Association
South Australian Cricket Association
The South Australian Cricket Association is the peak body for the sport of cricket in South Australia. The association runs Adelaide Oval and the Southern Redbacks based in Adelaide, South Australia. SACA is the controlling body for the South Australian Grade Cricket League...
for about 30 years, and during that period seldom missed a committee meeting. His public benefactions were many and included £2,000 to clear the debt off the Norwood Oval
Norwood Oval
Norwood Oval is a suburban oval in the western end of Norwood, an inner eastern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council own the Oval but rent it, for a peppercorn rental, to the Norwood Football Club...
, £2,000 for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution, £1,000 to start an insurance fund for the Commercial Travellers' Association, and many other private benefactions. Without any pretensions to oratory or great learning, but with an excellent conception of what would be worthwhile and feasible, Smith laboured all his life for the good of his community.
Smith died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 25 December 1919 at his home, "The Acacias", in the eastern Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
suburb of Marryatville
Marryatville, South Australia
Marryatville is a small suburb to the east of Adelaide's central business district. Along with neighbouring Heathpool, it is part of the City of Norwood Payneham St Peters whereas all the suburbs around it save Kensington are not.-Shopping:...
. He married twice, first in 1857 to Florence Stock, who died in 1862, and second in 1869 to Elizabeth Spicer, who died in 1911. He was survived by a son and a daughter of the first marriage.
Norwood Football Club
When the Norwood Football ClubNorwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
decided in December 2005 to set up a "Hall of Fame", Smith was appointed one of the 10 non-playing inaugural members. "Sir Edwin Thomas Smith was patron of Norwood from the club’s first day in 1878 until his last, Christmas Day 1919". "More than any other individual, Sir Edwin ensured that the club built its early sporting life on solid foundations".
The Acacias
On his death in 1919, his home on the corner of Portrush and Kensington RoadsKensington Road, Adelaide
Kensington Road is a main road in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. It serves the eastern suburbs, primarily the northern side of the City of Burnside and the southern side of the City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters. Its western end, on the edge of the city centre, is at the infamous...
Marryatville
Marryatville, South Australia
Marryatville is a small suburb to the east of Adelaide's central business district. Along with neighbouring Heathpool, it is part of the City of Norwood Payneham St Peters whereas all the suburbs around it save Kensington are not.-Shopping:...
became Loreto Convent, then later Loreto College.
Sir Edwin Smith bought the property in 1878 and added extensively to it.