James Joynton Smith
Encyclopedia
Sir James John Joynton Smith KBE, commonly referred to as simply Joynton Smith (October 1858 - 10 October 1943) was an Australian hotelier, racecourse and newspaper owner, and Lord Mayor of Sydney.
Born James Smith (he added the Joynton later) in Bishopsgate
, London, Smith worked at sea until 1874, when he settled in Wellington, New Zealand. In 1884 he organised the Seamen's and Firemen's Union of Wellington, and was first president and secretary of the Cooks' and Pantrymen's Union of New Zealand. He went on to run the Prince of Wales Hotel, then the Post Office Hotel and marrying in 1882. However, according to his memoirs, he gambled away his fortune during a brief return to London in 1886. Around 1890 he arrived in Sydney and in 1891 re-entered the hospitality industry, starting with the Grand Central Coffee Palace, a temperance hotel. In 1896 he took over lease of the Imperial Arcade Hotel in Pitt Street
, renaming it the Arcadia and transforming it into a highly profitable residential hotel. He eventually acquired a string of hotels in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, including the Log Cabin in Penrith
, the Imperial in Mount Victoria
and the Carrington in Katoomba. The Carrington was notable for having its own power plant - its chimney can still be seen to this day - which also supplied electricity to parts of Katoomba. Earlier he had established the Imperial Arcade Electric Light Co, which later formed the nucleus of
Sydney City Council's electricity system.
In 1901, his interest in sports led to him taking out a lease at Brighton racecourse at Rockdale, and later the Forest Lodge racecourse in Glebe, which eventually became Harold Park
. In 1908 he opened the Victoria Park racecourse
at Zetland
, turning it into a showplace for horse and pony racing and trotting.
After failing in an attempt for a State Legislative Assembly
seat, Smith was appointed for life to the Legislative Council
in 1912. He was never active in the upper house and retired when it was re-formed in 1933. From 1916 to 1918 he was an independent alderman of Sydney Municipal Council for Bligh Ward. He served as Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1917. After losing his seat in the 1918 elections, Smith helped Clyde Packer
and Claude McKay
to launch the newspaper Smith's Weekly
(1919–50), for which he is perhaps best remembered, investing £20,000 in its formation. The tabloid, initially printed in the basement of the Imperial Arcade, was aimed squarely at supporting the rights and welfare of returned servicemen, with whom it proved popular. Knighted in 1920, chiefly for his work raising war bonds during World War I
, Smith remained chairman of Smith's Newspapers until 1939. Noted for generous support of patriotic and hospital charities, he was instrumental in the establishment of Royal South Sydney Hospital, across the road from Victoria Park racecourse. He was at one time a director of Sydney Hospital, the Wentworth Falls Convalescent Home, and was first president of the Picton Lakes T.B Soldiers and Sailors' Settlement at Thirlmere. Remarkably for a man whose fortune was largely built on hotels, he was a teetotaller.
He was also involved in the development of professional rugby league football in its early years, having put up the money to back the breakaway code in Australia.
Smith died at his residence Hastings House, Baden Street, Coogee, New South Wales
on 10 December 1943 and was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium the following day. He was survived by his third wife and a daughter and a son (his eldest child, Thayre, died in 1938, aged 31). His estate, valued at £326,000, was the subject of a long and expensive litigation. Joynton Ave in Zetland. and Joynton Smith Drive in Canberra were named for him.
Born James Smith (he added the Joynton later) in Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall...
, London, Smith worked at sea until 1874, when he settled in Wellington, New Zealand. In 1884 he organised the Seamen's and Firemen's Union of Wellington, and was first president and secretary of the Cooks' and Pantrymen's Union of New Zealand. He went on to run the Prince of Wales Hotel, then the Post Office Hotel and marrying in 1882. However, according to his memoirs, he gambled away his fortune during a brief return to London in 1886. Around 1890 he arrived in Sydney and in 1891 re-entered the hospitality industry, starting with the Grand Central Coffee Palace, a temperance hotel. In 1896 he took over lease of the Imperial Arcade Hotel in Pitt Street
Pitt Street, Sydney
Pitt Street is a major street in central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The street runs through the entire city centre from Circular Quay in the north to Waterloo, although today's street is in two disjointed sections after a substantial stretch of it was removed to make way for Sydney's...
, renaming it the Arcadia and transforming it into a highly profitable residential hotel. He eventually acquired a string of hotels in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, including the Log Cabin in Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
, the Imperial in Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria, New South Wales
Mount Victoria is a small township in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It is the westernmost village in the City of Blue Mountains, located approximately 120 kilometres via road from Sydney and 1043 metres above sea-level...
and the Carrington in Katoomba. The Carrington was notable for having its own power plant - its chimney can still be seen to this day - which also supplied electricity to parts of Katoomba. Earlier he had established the Imperial Arcade Electric Light Co, which later formed the nucleus of
Sydney City Council's electricity system.
In 1901, his interest in sports led to him taking out a lease at Brighton racecourse at Rockdale, and later the Forest Lodge racecourse in Glebe, which eventually became Harold Park
Harold Park Paceway
Harold Park Paceway was a harness racing track in Glebe, New South Wales. It was a half-mile track but was just 739m in circumference until some changes in recent years...
. In 1908 he opened the Victoria Park racecourse
Victoria Park Racecourse, Sydney
Victoria Park Racecourse was a racecourse in Zetland, an inner-city suburb, south of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was bordered by O’Dea Avenue, South Dowling Street, Epsom Road and Joynton Avenue....
at Zetland
Zetland, New South Wales
Zetland is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Zetland is located 4 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney....
, turning it into a showplace for horse and pony racing and trotting.
After failing in an attempt for a State Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
seat, Smith was appointed for life to the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
in 1912. He was never active in the upper house and retired when it was re-formed in 1933. From 1916 to 1918 he was an independent alderman of Sydney Municipal Council for Bligh Ward. He served as Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1917. After losing his seat in the 1918 elections, Smith helped Clyde Packer
Robert Clyde Packer
Robert Clyde Packer was the founder of Australia's Packer media dynasty, which used to own Publishing and Broadcasting Limited now owns Consolidated Press Holdings and Crown Limited....
and Claude McKay
Claude Eric Fergusson McKay
Claude McKay was an Australian journalist and publicist of Scottish descent born in Kilmore, Victoria.He worked on the Kilmore Advertiser as jack-of-all-trades then as a journalist in Seymour, Melbourne, Warrnambool and Bendigo before moving to Brisbane in 1902, where he was deputy music and...
to launch the newspaper Smith's Weekly
Smith's Weekly
Smith's Weekly was an Australian tabloid newspaper published from 1919 to 1950. An independent weekly published in Sydney, but read all over Australia, Smith’s Weekly was one of Australia’s most patriotic newspaper-style magazines....
(1919–50), for which he is perhaps best remembered, investing £20,000 in its formation. The tabloid, initially printed in the basement of the Imperial Arcade, was aimed squarely at supporting the rights and welfare of returned servicemen, with whom it proved popular. Knighted in 1920, chiefly for his work raising war bonds during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Smith remained chairman of Smith's Newspapers until 1939. Noted for generous support of patriotic and hospital charities, he was instrumental in the establishment of Royal South Sydney Hospital, across the road from Victoria Park racecourse. He was at one time a director of Sydney Hospital, the Wentworth Falls Convalescent Home, and was first president of the Picton Lakes T.B Soldiers and Sailors' Settlement at Thirlmere. Remarkably for a man whose fortune was largely built on hotels, he was a teetotaller.
He was also involved in the development of professional rugby league football in its early years, having put up the money to back the breakaway code in Australia.
Smith died at his residence Hastings House, Baden Street, Coogee, New South Wales
Coogee, New South Wales
Coogee is a beachside suburb of local government area City of Randwick. It is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is also a part of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney....
on 10 December 1943 and was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium the following day. He was survived by his third wife and a daughter and a son (his eldest child, Thayre, died in 1938, aged 31). His estate, valued at £326,000, was the subject of a long and expensive litigation. Joynton Ave in Zetland. and Joynton Smith Drive in Canberra were named for him.