George Speller Wright J.P.1

#12088, (11 January 1845-1 January 1935)
FatherJohn Speller Wright (1812-8 Feb 1846)
MotherMartha Darby (18 Sep 1810-6 Aug 1876)
ChartsAylott Family - descendants
Brett Family - descendants
Darby Family - descendants
Descendents of Richard Darby
Last Edited13 Oct 2013

Short Biography

     George Speller Wright was born in North Adelaide in 1845 and seems to have received a good education, enabling him to become a lawyer, and then a newspaper worker, then joining government service at the age of 18.

At the age of 21 he married Emma Olifent and together they had seven children over a ten year period.

He held a range of positions in government service culminating in joining the newly-established state bank as Inspector General 1896.

He retired after about 52 years in government service, enjoying a twelve year retirement until he died in 1935 at the age of 89. three years after the death of Emma.
George Speller Wright c1875
(source: State Library of South Australia Portrait Collection
http://trove.nla.gov.au /version/15720586)
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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(For a brief history and context on the Darby family - which this person is an extended member of - see this page)

George Speller Wright J.P. was born on 11 January 1845 at Abbots Place, in North Adelaide.2,3 He was the son of John Speller Wright and Martha Darby.

His father died 8 February 1846 at the approximate age of 34. George was aged 1 when this happened. He was a student at John Lorenzo Young’s Adelaide Educational Institution.4 George was employed at the offices of Hanson & Hicks (later known as Hicks, Daly, & Price) an auctioneer where he received legal training, and soon after he began with 'The Register' in 1860.2,4 George was employed by the Adelaide General Post Office as a clerk on 1 September 1863.2 He was employed by the Chief Secretary's Office as a clerk, after being selected from a number of applicants on 10 November 1864.5,4 George was promoted to 'Clerk of the third class' in the Crown lands and Immigration Office.6 George lived in 1867 at North Adelaide.7

George Speller Wright J.P. married Emma Elwin Olifent, daughter of James Smith Olifent and Eliza Oyer, at Stow Memorial Congreational Church on Wednesday, 22 May 1867 at Adelaide. They were 22 and 21 respectively.8 George Speller Wright J.P. was clerk in the Chief Secretary's Office in March 1868.9

George, aged 24 and Emma Elwin Olifent, aged 23 became the parents of their first child Arthur John Speller Wright on Monday, 24 May 1869 at Adelaide. Arthur was to be the first of six children over a 10 year period.10



George was promoted to Secretary of the Marine Board on Saturday, 11 July 1874. Previously he had been Chief Clerk and Accountant in the Treasury.11 On 4 January 1877 George was promoted to the Chief Clerkship, second class, in the Chief Secretary's Office. He was also attached to the Crown Lands Department, Chief Clerk in Treasury, Receiver of Revenue & Accounts.12,13,4 He became Chief Clerk in the Chief Secretary's Office 1878.4 George, as Secretary of the Marine Board, may have been able to help his cousin John Darby gain a posting as a 5th grade clerk in his office.14

George attended the wedding of John Darby and Edith Watson at the residence of George Wright on Saturday, 12 October 1878 at the Adelaide suburb of Woodville. They also signed the marriage certificate as witnesses. Others who may have attended the wedding include Charlotte Eliza Float as mother of the bride, Henry Watson as father of the bride, Jessie Nicholson as mother of the groom and Thomas Darby as father of the groom.15 George was employed as Acting Secretary, Acting Government Statist and Superintendent of the 1881 Census.4 On 14 February 1881 Thomas Darby gave a report on the test-growing of two new types of wheat - Champlain and Defiance. The wheat was passed to him by his brother-in-law George Speller Wright J.P.16

He was promoted to be Secretary to the Honourable Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration, and Inspector General of Credit Lands on 10 March 1882.17,4 He had his name added 'to the commission of the peace' on 15 May 1882 at Adelaide.18 George "produced a notably significant chart of the colony's Hundreds containing amongst other things detailed information on railway locations, rainfall, farming and crop, pastoral and stock distribution."4 He was appointed Inspector-General of Credit Lands 1884.19 He had an interest in the Molesworth Ore Reduction Company on 17 November 1892.20

He was secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands on 31 October 1895.21 He was a founding member of the Central Pastoral Board and Central Land Board on 10 January 1896.22

George was nominated to a position in the state bank on 21 February 1896:
"The trustees of the newly established State Bank met at the Treasury to day. Numerous applications for the position of Inspector General under the State Advanees Act were considered, and eventually Mr. George Speller Wright, secretary to the Commissioner of Lands, was nominated tor the office. Mr. Wright has been inspector general of credit selections tor many years and has been secretary of the lands department since March, his first appointment in the South Australian Government service dates back to September, 1863. Mr. Wright's present salary is 600 pounds as secretary of the Lands Department and 100 pounds as Inspector-general of credit lands, and he asks for a salary 800 pounds per year for the new position."22,23

He he resigned his Land Board positions with government on 6 March 1896.24

He celebrated 50 years of service with the South Australian Government: on 30 August 1913.2 George was nominated on Saturday, 4 December 1915 to be one of the two councillors for the new municipality of Henly and Grange. A year later he nominated for mayor. Since there were no objections he was proclaimed to the position. A year after that, he ran for the position again and was elected with more than 85% of the vote.25,26,27 He bgan a 7 month long-term leave from his position at the State Bank, a the end of which he retired. on 4 May 1920.28,3 He was included in a photograph of senior South Australian Civil Servants.
George Speller Wright (believed to be fourth from left) in a photograph of senior South Australin Civil Servants
(source: State Library of South Australia General Collection image B5962 http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/16027799)


He and Emma Elwin Olifent celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on 22 May 1927.29 George and Emma lived on 26 May 1927 at Henly Beach, South Australia.30

His wife Emma died 3 July 1932 at the age of 86, leaving him a widower at age 87.31

George died on 1 January 1935 at Howard Terrace, in Hazelwood Park, South Australia, at age 89.32 He was buried at West Terrace Cemetery, in Adelaide.4

George's will was probated on 24 January 1935. And his estate was valued at £10,904.33

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
Family
1845BirthAbbots Place, in North Adelaide2,3
Education4
1860Employment2,4
1863Employment2
1864Employment5,4
1866Note memo only6
1867ResidenceNorth Adelaide7
1867MarriageStow Memorial Congreational Church, in Adelaide8
1868Note9
1874Note memo only CR CR11
1877Note memo only12,13,4
1878Note memo only4
Employment4
1881Note memo only"Hopelands", in Minlacowie, South Australia16
1882Note17,4
1882NoteAdelaide18
1883Note memo only4
1884Note memo only19
1892Note20
1895Note21
1896Note22
1896Quotation type 1Adelaide22,23
1896Note24
1913Note2
1915Note memo onlySouth Australia25,26,27
1920Note28,3
1927Note29
1927ResidenceHenly Beach, South Australia30
1935DeathHoward Terrace, in Hazelwood Park, South Australia32
BurialWest Terrace Cemetery, in Adelaide4
1935Probate33

Family

Emma Elwin Olifent (11 Apr 1846-3 Jul 1932)
Children

Citations

  1. [S661] Dictionary of Australasian Biography (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/…) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/…,_George_Speller (for suffix).
  2. [S458] The Register (Adelaide), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1913 'THE STATE BANK.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 30 August, p. 16, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60054289
  3. [S458] The Register (Adelaide), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1926 'PERSONAL.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 12 January, p. 8, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64329380
  4. [S577] E-mails from Geoff Frogley to Tim Hill, 2012- 09 Oct 2012.
  5. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1864 'TOPICS OF THE DAY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 11 November, p. 2, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31843494
  6. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1866 'THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 31 August, p. 4, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41019551
  7. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1867 'Family Notices.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 23 May, p. 2, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39191930
  8. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol 71 p.167.
  9. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1868 'PROMOTION.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 6 March, p. 3, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39180479
  10. [S5] South Australia, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.84 p.36.
  11. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1874 'MARINE BOARD APPOINTMENTS CONFIRMED.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 17 July, p. 7, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39815519
  12. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1877 'THE KEW ASYLUM ENQUIRY.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 4 January, p. 4, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40786028
  13. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1877 'THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 12 January, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33744163
  14. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1878 'MARINE BOARD.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 2 July, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42983950
  15. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.117 p.229.
  16. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1881 'THE CHILDREN OF THE STATE IN AUSTRALIA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 14 February, p. 4, viewed 15 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43158580
  17. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1882 'THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 10 March, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47112526
  18. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1882 'GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 15 May, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33616016
  19. [S661] Dictionary of Australasian Biography (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/…) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/…,_George_Speller.
  20. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1892 'Advertising.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 17 November, p. 8, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48561656
  21. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1895 'TILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 31 October, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34527344
  22. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1896 'GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 10 January, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34534168
  23. [S350] The Brisbane Courier, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1896 'SOUTH AUSTRALIA.', The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), 21 February, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3619665
  24. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1896 'GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 6 March, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34539712
  25. [S458] The Register (Adelaide), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1915 'A NEW MUNICIPALITY.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 4 December, p. 4, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59988516
  26. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1916 'Advertising.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 21 November, p. 2, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5536800
  27. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1917 'MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 4 December, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5577327
  28. [S458] The Register (Adelaide), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1920 'CONCERNING PEOPLE.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 4 May, p. 7, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62713018
  29. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1927 'A DIAMOND WEDDING.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 23 May, p. 10, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73664121
  30. [S458] The Register (Adelaide), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1927 'Family Notices.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 26 May, p. 8, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54265134
  31. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1932 'OBITUARY.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 6 July, p. 16, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34686918
  32. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1935 'Family Notices.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 4 January, p. 18, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35029839
  33. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1935 'Probate Granted.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 25 January, p. 19, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74121940
  34. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol 180 p.366.
  35. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol 229 p.785.