Alexander George Downer (28 January 1839 – 17 August 1916), usually known as George, or A. G. Downer, was a South Australian businessman and a partner with his brother Sir
John Downer
Sir John William Downer, KCMG, KC (6 July 1843 – 2 August 1915) was an Australian politician who served two terms as Premier of South Australia, from 1885 to 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893. He later entered federal politics and served as ...
in the legal firm G & J Downer.
History
Downer was born in
Adelaide
Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
, the eldest of four sons of Henry Downer, the others being Henry Edward Downer (22 March 1836 – 4 August 1905), John William Downer (1843–1915), and Harold Field Downer (1847 – 23 May 1887). He was educated at Francis Haire's Academy and while quite young was articled to the firm of Bartley, Bakewell & Stow, whose principals included
Randolph Isham Stow
Randolph Isham Stow (17 December 1828 – 17 September 1878) was an English-born Australian Supreme Court of South Australia judge.
Early life
Stow was born in Framlingham, Suffolk, England and baptised at Water Lane-Independent, Bishops Sto ...
. He combined study of law, for which he had a ready talent, with journalism, and was for a time editor of the (Adelaide) ''Telegraph''. He was admitted to the bar in 1868. His brother John had only recently qualified and the two entered into partnership. The firm G & J Downer prospered and was eventually taken over by Frank H. and J. Fred Downer, sons of his brothers Henry Edward and John Downer respectively.
His only attempt at a position in Parliament was in 1870 when he contested the seat of Gumeracha against
Ebenezer Ward
Ebenezer Ward (4 September 1837 – 8 October 1917) was an Australian politician and journalist. He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1870 to 1880, and from 1881 to 1890, representing Gumeracha (1870–1880), Burra (1 ...
and
Arthur Blyth
Sir Arthur Blyth (19 March 1823 – 7 December 1891) was Premier of South Australia three times; 1864–65, 1871–72 and 1873–75.
Early life
The son of William Blyth and his wife, Sarah Wilkins, he was born at Birmingham, England on 21 ...
. He was unsuccessful.
Around 1880 he was appointed by the government to a Pastoral Commission and was in a large part responsible for lengthening the tenure of leases of Crown lands.
Pastoralist
Francis John Whitby
Elizabeth Whitby ( – 12 November 1888) was founder and principal of a school for girls in Carrington Street, Adelaide, one of the first in the Colony of South Australia, founded in 1848.
History
Elizabeth Whitby (née Castleden) was a daughter ...
, a fellow student at Haire's Academy was a lifelong friend.
Downer never married. After his death at his (c. 170) South Terrace residence, his Adelaide Hills property "Monalta" (previously known as "Hope Lodge") near the
Belair railway station
Belair railway station is located on the Adelaide to Melbourne line in the Adelaide southern foothills suburb of Belair, 21.5 kilometres from Adelaide station. It is the terminus for Adelaide Metro's Belair line service.Blackwood District Community Hospital. Sir John, his brother, had predeceased him on 2 August 1915 and his sister Amelia Rivaz had died on 21 July 1916.
Business activities
He was much in demand for his business acumen as well as his knowledge of mercantile law. For around twenty years he was a
*director of China Traders Company
*trustee of
Harrold Brothers
Harrold Brothers was a merchant and shipping company in South Australia in the second half of the 19th century, whose principals were brothers Joseph, Daniel and perhaps Henry Harrold, and succeeded by Joseph's sons Arthur, Eyston and Ernest.
Fo ...
*director, Norwich Union Assurance Company
*director, Elder, Smith, & Co. from 1892
*director
Bank of Adelaide
The Bank of Adelaide was an Australian bank founded in 1865 in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It was incorporated by an act of the Parliament of South Australia. The original directors of the company were Henry Ayers
Sir Hen ...
from around 1894 and Chairman for most of that time
He relinquished these positions in May 1914 as his health deteriorated.
*He invested in a northern pastoral property which was resumed by the Government, then in 1888 a share of Minburra station and an adjoining property, making Melton Station, about 40 km from Yunta.
See also
*
Downer family
The Downer family has played a significant role in the South Australian and Australian political and social sphere since the early days of European settlement. Their earliest ancestors were Mary Ann Downer (1792–1868) and her son Henry Downe ...
George
George may refer to:
Names
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
People
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE
* George, stage name of Gior ...