John Morphett
Encyclopedia
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 pioneer
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
, landowner and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Early life
Morphett was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide
Ide, Devon
Ide is a village in Devon, England situated less than a mile to the southwest of Exeter. The village church is dedicated to the German Saint Ida of Herzfeld. The village is home to two pubs: the Poacher's Arms and Huntsman Inn. A long ford crosses a lane on the edge of the village...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and was educated at Plymouth and Highgate Grammar Schools. At 16 he was an office boy in the employ of a ship broker, Henry Blanshard. He then obtained a position in the counting house of Wilson & Blanshard. At 21 he left for Egypt and worked in the counting-house of Harris & Co in Alexandria. It was here that he met Colonel William Light
William Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
. He returned to London in 1834, became interested in the South Australian colonisation schemes, and was an early investor in the South Australian Company; he was one of the first who paid £81 for a preliminary land order of 134 acres. With his younger brother George, he set up an agency business and published a pamphlet declaing his intention of migrating to South Australia and his readiness to act for purchasers of land. He also advertised in similar terms in the Globe and Traveller, 30 July 1835. In September 1834 he joined the South Australian Literary Association, and around the end of 1835 he attended the dinner given to honour Captain Hindmarsh's
John Hindmarsh
Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH RN was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.-Early life:...
appointment as governor of South Australia.
Arrival in South Australia
On 20 March 1836, Morphett sailed for South Australia in the Cygnet, which arrived at Kangaroo IslandKangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
on 11 September 1836. On 5 November 1836, the Cygnet arrived at Holdfast Bay
Holdfast Bay
Holdfast Bay is a small bay in Gulf St Vincent, next to Adelaide, South Australia. Along its shores lie the City of Holdfast Bay and the popular beach-side suburb of Glenelg.-European settlement:...
. Next day, with Lieutenant Field and George Strickland Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
, he "discovered" the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
. With others on the Cygnet, he also identified the mouth of the Port River
Port River
The Port River is the western branch of the largest tidal estuary on the eastern side of Gulf St Vincent. It extends inland through the historic Inner Harbour of Port Adelaide, to the constructed salt-water West Lakes in the north-western suburbs of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia...
, identified the suitability of Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
, and visited Port Lincoln with Light. At the crucial meeting on 10 February 1837, he played a decisive role in confirming the choice of Adelaide for a settlement.
On 15 August 1838 he married Elizabeth Hurtle Fisher, the eldest daughter of James Hurtle Fisher
James Hurtle Fisher
Sir James Hurtle Fisher was a lawyer and prominent South Australian pioneer. He was the first Resident Commissioner of South Australia, the first Mayor of Adelaide and the first resident South Australian to be knighted....
(later Sir James), whom he had first met at the meetings of the South Australian Literary Association in London. They were married at Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide
Holy Trinity Church is an Anglican church on North Terrace, in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. In terms of weekly attendance, Trinity is the largest Anglican church in South Australia, with 5 services on the North Terrace location each Sunday, 5 Sunday services in four church plants and...
, South Australia's first Anglican Church.
As a land agent for the South Australian Company, he secured valuable land for his family and clients; he was energetic, enthusiastic sensible and lucky, and profited greatly from a multitude of land transactions. A Secondary Towns Association was formed in England in 1838, and Morphett became the local Colonial Representative for the Secondary Towns Association. In May 1839 he paid £4,000 for a Special Survey of 4000 acres (1,618.7 ha) of land along the Hutt River, and in November 1939 he bought 8,000 acres on the River Murray which became the Wood's Point Estate. During November 1841, as one of the trustees for Lt. Col. George Gawler, Morphett selected land in sections 1553 and 1554 to the south of the Barossa South Survey.
In December 1939, Morphett was elected Director of the South Australian Railway Company. In 1842, he became one of four members appointed by the Crown to assist the Governor, and was also elected Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Morphett was one of the originators of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society, presiding over the introductory meeting on 24 April 1844. In April 1846, he became a member of the Committee of management of the English Railway Company which proposed to lay a railway along Port Road. He was a director of the Adelaide Mining Company, and also a director of the South Australian Mining Association which owned the Burra mine. When the Adelaide Cricket Club was formed in 1853, Morphett became its Vice-President and his father-in-law, J.H. Fisher, its President.
Political life
Morphett was appointed treasurer to the town corporation on 5 December 1840, and on 15 June 1843 was nominated as one of four non-official members of the expanded 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...
. In January 1845 he chaired the meeting called to protest the British government's proposal to send Parkhurst prison boys to South Australia. In September 1846, as a protest against the mining royalty bill being passed by the casting vote of Governor Robe
Frederick Robe
Major-General Frederick Holt Robe CB was the fourth Governor of South Australia, from 25 October 1845 to 2 August 1848....
, Morphett and the three other non-official council members left the chamber - in consequence the council was left without a quorum. In August 1851 Morphett became Speaker of the enlarged Legislative Council, and on 9 March 1857 he was elected a member of the legislative council at the first election under responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
. He was chief secretary in the Thomas Reynolds ministry from February to October 1861, and on 31 March 1865 was elected president of the legislative council, a position he held until his retirement. He was knighted on 16 February 1870 for his services to South Australia. In February 1873 he retired from politics and public life. His sons Hurtle and John Cummins took over the running of his properties along the Murray.
Personal life
Freemasonry filled a great part of Morphett's personal life. He was elected as a member and initiated into the Craft on 27 November 1834 in London when The Lodge of Friendship, a Lodge especially founded to become South Australia's first Lodge, held its very first meeting. Later he rose in position within the Lodge, (which is still in operation), ultimately to become its Master.Death
Morphett died at his home, Cummins House, MorphettvilleMorphettville, South Australia
Morphettville is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Marion. It is the site of the Morphettville Racecourse and the tram barn for the Glenelg Tram. Both the suburb and the racecourse were named after Sir John Morphett....
, on 7 November 1892. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth, six daughters and four of his five sons.
Legacy
Morphett had faith in the colony from the beginning: although he realized that for a period South Australia would be regarded as a pastoral colony, depending chiefly on its export of wool, as early as 1838 he had hopes of raising wine, olive oil, figs, maize, flax, silk, rice, indigo and tobacco. Morphett supported Fisher and Gouger in their quarrels with Hindmarsh, later becoming a force in the Legislative Council, and he worked hard for responsible government. He took an active part in the formation of the Literary Association and the Mechanics Institute, and was an early supporter of St Peter's CollegeSt Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
. He was one of the earliest men to take an interest in horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in South Australia, and Morphettville Racecourse
Morphettville Racecourse
Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing track for South Australia. It is situated in the suburb of Morphettville in Adelaide, Australia, and is about 10km from the centre of the city....
was named after him. Also named after him were the suburbs of Morphettville
Morphettville, South Australia
Morphettville is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Marion. It is the site of the Morphettville Racecourse and the tram barn for the Glenelg Tram. Both the suburb and the racecourse were named after Sir John Morphett....
and Morphett Vale
Morphett Vale, South Australia
Morphett Vale is a southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Onkaparinga. It is the largest suburb in the state, with a population of more than 23,000 and an area of 12.76km², followed by Paralowie with nearly 10,000 fewer residents. There are approximately 1,000 businesses in...
, Morphett Street
Morphett Street, Adelaide
Morphett Street is a main road in the west of the central business district of Adelaide, South Australia. It runs north-south, between North and South Terraces....
in the 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...
, and the state electoral district of Morphett
Electoral district of Morphett
Morphett is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the state of South Australia.Created in 1976 following an electoral redistribution, the seat of Morphett was named after Sir John Morphett who lived in the Morphettville area and was speaker of the enlarged Legislative Council in 1851...
.
Cummins House
On 15 May 1838, John Morphett used his preliminary land order to buy 134 acres of land bounded by Pine Avenue, Anzac Highway and Morphett Road, near the present Morphettville race course. On 13 January 1840, he was granted title to the land which he named "Cummins Estate" after his mother's Devonshire farm. He kept sheep and cows, planted fruit trees, vines and olive groves, and cultivated a variety of local and imported trees. A horse lover, he also kept a stud and was involved in racing. (He was one of the original directors of the Morphettville Racing Club, founded in 1847).Morphett's home, Cummins House, was designed by architect George Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
. It was sited on the Sturt River
Sturt River, Adelaide
The Sturt River is a river located in Adelaide, South Australia. Beginning in Upper Sturt in the Adelaide Hills, it flows through Coromandel Valley, the Sturt Gorge Recreation Park, Marion and Morphettville, before meeting the Patawalonga in Glenelg North. Along with Brown Hill Creek, it is one of...
and begun in 1842 as a five roomed red brick cottage. It was extended considerably in 1854, and there were further extensions in 1906, 1945, 1977 and 1983. Five generations of the Morphett family lived in Cummins House until 1977, when it was acquired by the South Australian Government. The house's website contains picture galleries of the rooms inside the house, the gardens, and of the house itself.
In 1919, the first sub-division occurred when land south of the Glenelg-North Terrace Railway Line was sold for a new subdivision for returned servicemen's homes. In 1921, the area, which also included that part of Cummins Estate where Cummins House is located, was renamed to Novar Gardens to honour Viscount Novar, (who as Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson was the sixth Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
from 1914 to 1920). Hence, Cummins House is located at 23 Sheoak Avenue, Novar Gardens, South Australia
Novar Gardens, South Australia
Novar Gardens is an inner south-western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, in the City of West Torrens.Originally to be called Morphettville, the name was changed to honour the family estate of Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar, Governor-General of Australia from 1914 to 1920, who visited...
.
A large section of the property was purchased by Immanuel College
Immanuel College, Adelaide
Immanuel College, is a Lutheran school in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the only Lutheran college in Adelaide that has boarders. Its sister schools include Concordia College in Adelaide and Kyushu Lutheran College in Kumamoto, Japan.- History :...
in 1949. The remaining 32 acres were held until 1963, when ~30 acres, often referred to as "Cummins Park", were sold for housing, leaving 1.68 acres containing the home and the outbuildings.
The fourth generation owner, Hurtle Morphett, offered this residence and land for sale but a satisfactory purchaser was not forthcoming. To ensure that the home would be saved, the SA Government purchased the house on the remaining 1.68 acres in 1977.
In 1982, Immanuel College leased Cummins from the State Government, with the aim of restoring the property for use as a pioneer museum, and as an exhibition and performance centre. The lease was for 5 years. With the assistance of the Cummins Society, the West Torrens Historical Society, and the National Trust, the school spent about $30,000 a year on the restoration of the house from an empty shell. At the end of the lease period, the State government offered the lease to the West Torrens Council, who agreed to take charge of the property "under certain conditions".
Timeline of Cummins House
| From | To | Owners/Lessees/Occupants/events |
|---|---|---|
| 1836 | John Morphett arrived in South Australia | |
| 1838 | (15 May) John Morphett bought 132 acres of land by the Sturt Creek which he named "Cummins Estate" | |
| 1838 | (15 August) John married Elizabeth Fisher | |
| 1842 | 1870 | The 5 roomed "Cummins House" was completed and occupied by Mr & Mrs John Morphett and family |
| 1854 | Extensive additions to house completed | |
| 1870 | 1892 | (John Morphett knighted.) House occupied by Sir John & Lady Elizabeth Morphett and family |
| 1880 | North Terrace to Glenelg Railway bisects area between Sturt Creek and Anzac Highway | |
| 1892 | 1905 | (Sir John died.) House occupied by Lady Elizabeth Morphett and family |
| 1905 | 1936 | (Lady Elizabeth died.) House occupied by Mr & Mrs John Cummins Morphett and family |
| 1906 | Further extensions | |
| 1919 | First subdivision. Land between Railway line and Anzac Highway sold for a new subdivision for returned servicemen's homes. | |
| 1921 | Part of Morphettville renamed Novar Gardens | |
| 1936 | John Cummins Morphett died | |
| ? | 1963 | House occupied by Mr & Mrs George Cummins Morphett and family |
| 1949 | A large portion of Cummins Estate sold to Immanuel College, leaving 32 acres (of the original 132 acres) | |
| 1963 | (George Cummins Morphett died.) ~30 acres sold for Housing, leaving 1.68 acres | |
| ? | 1977 | House occupied by Mr & Mrs Hurtle Cummins Morphett and family |
| 1977 | 1982 | Property purchased by South Australian State Government |
| 1982 | 1987 | Property leased by Immanuel College. Restoration commences |
| 1987 | now | State Government offered the lease to the West Torrens Council, who agreed to take charge of the property "under certain conditions" |
Parents
John was born on 4 May 1809 in London, England, the second son of Nathaniel and Mary, née Gliddon.Siblings
His siblings included:- George Morphett (1811–1893). Married Ann Hitchcock. Three children born London, England. Arrived in South Australia in 1840. Eustace born 1847 in Adelaide. Member of the House of Assembly 1860-1861. Died in London.
- Robert Morphett
Children
John (1809–1892). Married Elizabeth Hurtle née Fisher (1815–1905), 15 Aug 1838, Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide.They had 12 children, although their first child was stillborn.
| Married | Lived | Notes | ||
| 0. | Stillborn | |||
| 1. | Mary | William Mair | 1840- | |
| 2. | Amy Gawler | Charles William May JP (1831–1873) married 1861 |
1841–1922 | Seven children Buried with her husband in St. Judes Cemetery, Brighton |
| 3. | Ada Fisher | Henry (Harry) Lockett Ayers (1844–1905) Married 1866 |
1843–1939 | Harry was the second son of Sir Henry Ayers Henry Ayers Sir Henry Ayers GCMG was Premier of South Australia five times between 1863 and 1873, but is perhaps best remembered for having Uluru/Ayers Rock named for him.- Overview :... |
| 4. | John Cummins | Mary Frances née Sanders, married 1875 |
1844–1936 | - 2nd owner of "Cummins" |
| 5. | Adelaide Sturt | George Henderson (1841–1886) married 1864 St Peter's Church Glenelg SA |
1846–1940 | Lived (and died) in New Zealand |
| 6. | George Cooper | unmarried | 1849–1868 | Died aged 19 |
| 7. | Violet | 1) Reginald Cobb 2) Robert Alfred Stock |
1850–1927 | |
| 8. | Charles Edward | 1852–1926 | ||
| 9. | James Hurtle | 1854–1919 | ||
| 10. | Hurtle Willoughby | unmarried | 1855–1938 | |
| 11. | Marian Fisher Georgina | 1) Edward Mammatt Colley 2) Frederick Goldsmid Levi |
1859–1931 |
Grandchildren
| Child | Lived | Father | Mother | Born | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Cummins | 1876–1963 | John Cummins | Mary Frances SANDERS | Adelaide | 3rd owner of "Cummins" |
| Arthur Hurtle | 1877–1916 | John Cummins | Mary Frances SANDERS | Adelaide | |
| Annie Elizabeth | 1879 | John Cummins | Mary Frances SANDERS | Adelaide | |
| Bessey | 1880 | John Cummins | Mary Frances SANDERS | New Glenelg | |
| Mary Eleanor | 1882 | John Cummins | Mary Frances SANDERS | Glenelg Glenelg, South Australia Glenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is... |
|
| Lucy | 1883 | John Cummins | Mary Frances SANDERS | Glenelg Glenelg, South Australia Glenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is... |
|
| Amy Mabel MAY | Charles William May | Amy Gawler | Married George Walpole Leake Leake family tree A number of members of the Leake family were prominent and notable individuals in the Swan River Colony and the history of Perth, Western Australia - and the History of Western Australia.... (1825–1895) in 1893. |
Fourth generation
- Hurtle Cummins Morphett, 4th owner of Cummins who sold the property to the State Government for ~$200,000 in 1977. Hurtle is the son of George Cummins Morphett and Violet Alice Morphett (née Anderson), married 1901.
| Child | Birthdate | Father | Mother | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audrey Cummins | 27 May 1902 | George Cummins | Violet Alice ANDERSON | Mount Gambier Mount Gambier, South Australia Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border.... |
Fifth generation
- John Cummins Morphett (1943-), last generation to live in Cummins, is the son of Hurtle Cummins Morphett
Further reading
- George Cummins Morphett (1936) The life and letters of Sir John Morphett, Adelaide : Hassell Press, Limited edition of 100 numbered copies.
- Dulcie Perry (1987) Historic Cummins, Sheoak Avenue, Novar Gardens, Novar Gardens, SA : Cummins Society.
- Cummins Society (1987) Historic Cummins House, Sheoak Avenue, Novar Gardens 5040 : a walk among the heritage trees, Novar Gardens, SA : Cummins Society.
- Dulcie Perry (1992) Sir John Morphett : a South Australian colonist of distinction, Novar Gardens, SA : Cummins Society, with the assistance of West Torrens Council.
- Dulcie Perry (1994) Handbook for guides at Cummins, Novar Gardens, SA : Cummins Society.
External links
- John Morphett, familysearch.org
- Elizabeth Hurtle Fisher, familysearch.org