Edwin Thomas Smith

For other people named Edwin Smith, seeEdwin Smith (disambiguation).

Sir Edwin Thomas SmithKCMG(6 April 1830 – 25 December 1919)was anEnglish-bornSouth Australianbrewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and philanthropist.

1872 - politician

1887 - Mayor

1890 - Sir Edwin

1919 - grandfather

Early years

Smith was born on 6 April 1830 atWalsall,Staffordshire,England,the son of Edwin Smith.He was educated atQueen Mary's Grammar School,Walsall,and on leaving school had business experience with an uncle. By age 20, Smith was taking part in local politics.

Emigration

In 1853 Smith emigrated toSouth Australiaaboard theCaliforniaand began business as an importer of ironmongery atAdelaide,initially collaborating with his cousinJames Alexander Holden. On 25 June 1857 he married Florence Stock, daughter of Robert Stock of Clifton, England. They would have two surviving children before she died in 1862.

Brewer

In 1860 he went into partnership with Edward Logue'sbrewery on King William Street,Kent Town.When Logue died in 1865, Smith continued the business asKent Town Brewery.In 1876 he moved the business to the south-eastern corner of Dequetteville Terrace andRundle Street.In 1888 he amalgamated his business with that ofWilliam Knox Simmsto form theSouth Australian Brewing Company.

The malt towers of the old Kent Town Brewery have now been turned into luxury apartments overlooking theAdelaide Park LandsandAdelaide city centre.

Local government

Smith wasMayorof theTown of Kensington and Norwoodduring the years 1867–70 and 1871–73, and was afterwards elected to theAdelaide City Council.He served three terms asMayor of Adelaide:in 1879–82, 1886–87 and 1887–88. It was as a result of his advocacy that Adelaide had its firsttramways,King William Streetwas extended, and theTorrens Lakewas formed.

Member of the House of Assembly

Smith entered parliament in 1871 as member forEast Torrensin theSouth Australian House of Assembly,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 theBrayministry 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 theAdelaide Jubilee International Exhibitionof 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 ofQueen Victoria,which was placed in the geographiccentre of Adelaidein the centre ofVictoria Square.

Member of the Legislative Council

Smith was elected to theSouth Australian Legislative Councilas member for Southern Districts in 1894 and remained a member until 1902.During the whole of his parliamentary experience he never lost an election.

Other roles, retirement and death

Smith was the founding president of theKensington and Norwood Institute,and largely responsible for the funding of its building in 1876, now the heritage-listed Norwood Library on The Parade inNorwood.

He was a regular churchgoer and for many years adeaconofClayton Congregational Church,inKensington.

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 which he gave both time and money. He was chairman of the national park commissioners, and a trustee of theSavings Bank of South Australia.He was an active worker in the management of the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution; theAdelaide Hospital;the Old Colonists' Association; the Elder workmen's homes;Adelaide Botanic Garden;andAdelaide Zoo.

Smith died of acerebral haemorrhageon 25 December 1919 at his home, "The Acacias", in the eastern suburb ofMarryatville.

Family

On 25 June 1857, Edwin Smith married Florence Stock (c. 1837 – 12 February 1862), daughter of Robert Stock of Clifton, England. They had three children:

• Horace Edwin Smith (1858–1858)
• Florence Ida Smith (1859–1932), married George Henry Dean in 1882.
• Sydney Talbot SmithBA LLB (1861– 3 October 1948), married Florence Oliver Chettle (died died 21 September 1935), in 1887, with whom he had four children.

Sir Edwin married again, in 1869, to Elizabeth Spicer (died 6 June 1911). This union was childless.

Legacies

Sir Edwin and Lady Smith's Gifts, Walsall

In 1917, Sir Edwin endowed a gift fund in his native town of Walsall, England, to buy Christmas gifts for the needy elderly of the parish.

Norwood Football Club

When theNorwood Football Clubdecided 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". He is known to have discovered a small 2 ounce of gold at Norwood oval in 1902. Edwin donated it to the football club, as well as his old pair of red socks. Ever since, Norwood has been known as the Redlegs.

Adelaide Oval

The Sir Edwin Smith Stand at theAdelaide Ovalwas named in his honour in 1922. One of the roads leading up to the Oval is Sir Edwin Smith Way.

The Acacias

Smith bought the property on the corner ofPortrushandKensington Roads,known asThe Acacias,in 1878 and made extensive additions and alterations to it. Upon his death in 1919, his home becameLoreto Convent,then later Loreto College, Marryatville.

References

• Serle, Percival(1949)."Smith, Edwin".Dictionary of Australian Biography.Sydney:Angus & Robertson.