Elizee De Garis
Encyclopedia
Elisha Clement "Elizee" De Garis (17 September 1851 – 2 July 1948) was an Australian irrigationist.
De Garis was born at Saint Martin on Guernsey
in the Channel Islands
to carpenter Elisha De Garis and Mary, née Roberts. In 1854 the De Garises migrated to Australia, settling in Adelaide and then Naracoorte
. The young Elisha attended the Collegiate School of St Peter before moving to Melbourne
in 1872 to study architecture. Ordained in the Wesleyan Methodist Church
in 1880, he married Elizabeth Buncle on 2 February 1881 and was formally ordained as a minister in 1882 for Durham Ox
and Kerang
. He became known as a supporter of Hugh McColl
's irrigation schemes and was appointed irrigation correspondent for the Melbourne Daily Telegraph; he was appointed inaugural chairman of the Tragowel Plains Irrigation and Water Supply Trust and also served as chairman of the Central Irrigation League, editing the Australian Irrigationist and founding the Associated Australian Yeomanry.
In 1888, De Garis was a commissioner of the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition, having formally renounced the cloth in 1887 (although he continued as a lay preacher). He established a market garden at Werribee
with George Chaffey but in 1891 moved to Mildura
, where he was one of the founders of the Australian Dried Fruits Association and president of Mildura Shire Council
(1907–08). He returned to Melbourne in 1908, leaving his son Jack
to managed his Mildura affairs. Elected to Moorabbin Shire Council
in 1909, he ran unsuccessfully for the state seat of Brighton
in 1909 and the federal seat of Yarra
in 1910 for the Liberal Party
. He spent time in Guernsey
from 1916 to 1919; his wife died in 1918 and he remarried Mary Evaleen Waugh on 23 April 1919 at Auburn
. He died in 1948.
De Garis was born at Saint Martin on Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
to carpenter Elisha De Garis and Mary, née Roberts. In 1854 the De Garises migrated to Australia, settling in Adelaide and then Naracoorte
Naracoorte, South Australia
Naracoorte is a town in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, approximately 336 kilometres south east of Adelaide and 100 kilometres north of Mount Gambier on the Riddoch Highway .-History:...
. The young Elisha attended the Collegiate School of St Peter before moving to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1872 to study architecture. Ordained in the Wesleyan Methodist Church
Wesleyan Methodist Church
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was a Methodist denomination in the United States organized on May 13, 1841. It was composed of ministers and laypeople who withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church because of disagreements regarding slavery, church government, and the doctrine of holiness...
in 1880, he married Elizabeth Buncle on 2 February 1881 and was formally ordained as a minister in 1882 for Durham Ox
Durham Ox, Victoria
Durham Ox is a small rural locality in the Shire of Loddon in Victoria, Australia.It is situated on the Serpentine Creek, a tributary of the Loddon River. This is a highly valuable natural and irrigation resource to both the local tourism and agriculture economies.This community is widely known...
and Kerang
Kerang, Victoria
Kerang is a rural town on the Loddon River in northern Victoria in Australia. It is the commercial centre to an irrigation district based on livestock, horticulture, lucerne and grain. It is located north-west of Melbourne on the Murray Valley Highway a few kilometres north of its intersection...
. He became known as a supporter of Hugh McColl
Hugh McColl
Hugh L. McColl Jr. is a fourth-generation banker and the former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America. McColl was a driving force behind consolidating a series of progressively larger, mostly Southern banks, thrifts and financial institutions into a super-regional banking force, "the first...
's irrigation schemes and was appointed irrigation correspondent for the Melbourne Daily Telegraph; he was appointed inaugural chairman of the Tragowel Plains Irrigation and Water Supply Trust and also served as chairman of the Central Irrigation League, editing the Australian Irrigationist and founding the Associated Australian Yeomanry.
In 1888, De Garis was a commissioner of the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition, having formally renounced the cloth in 1887 (although he continued as a lay preacher). He established a market garden at Werribee
Werribee, Victoria
Werribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
with George Chaffey but in 1891 moved to Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
, where he was one of the founders of the Australian Dried Fruits Association and president of Mildura Shire Council
Shire of Mildura
The Shire of Mildura was a Local Government Area located at the northwestern corner pf Victoria, Australia, on the Murray River and the South Australian border. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1890 until 1995. From 1920 onwards, Mildura itself was managed by a separate entity,...
(1907–08). He returned to Melbourne in 1908, leaving his son Jack
Jack De Garis
Clement John De Garis was an Australian entrepreneur and aviator, noted for his colourful marketing style and work in the dried fruits industries in the Sunraysia area around Mildura in the 1920s.-Early years:...
to managed his Mildura affairs. Elected to Moorabbin Shire Council
City of Moorabbin
The City of Moorabbin was a Local Government Area located about southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1994.-History:...
in 1909, he ran unsuccessfully for the state seat of Brighton
Electoral district of Brighton
The Electoral district of Brighton is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Members for Brighton:-Election results:-See also:* Parliaments of the Australian states and territories...
in 1909 and the federal seat of Yarra
Division of Yarra
The Division of Yarra was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It was located in inner eastern suburban Melbourne, and was named after the Yarra River, which originally formed the eastern border of the Division, and eventually ran through it. It originally covered the suburbs...
in 1910 for the Liberal Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
. He spent time in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
from 1916 to 1919; his wife died in 1918 and he remarried Mary Evaleen Waugh on 23 April 1919 at Auburn
Auburn, Victoria
Auburn is an unbounded neighbourhood of the suburb of Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria. Its postcode is 3123.It is in the local government areas of the City of Boroondara....
. He died in 1948.