G. S. Wright
George Speller Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Abbot's Place, North Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | January 1, 1935 (aged 89) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, public official |
| Known for | Inaugural Inspector-General of the State Bank of South Australia; Mayor of Henley and Grange |
George Speller Wright (11 January 1845 – 1 January 1935), commonly referred to as G. S. Wright, was a prominent Australian banker who served as the inaugural Inspector-General of the State Bank of South Australia. His middle name is frequently incorrectly recorded as "Spiller".
History
Born in Abbot's Place, North Adelaide, Wright was the son of John Speller Wright (1812 – 1846) and Martha Wright, née Darby (1810 – 1876), who had emigrated to South Australia in 1839. His father, a tailor by profession, passed away before Wright reached his first birthday.
Wright received partial schooling at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution, although he did not excel academically. He commenced his professional journey with the auctioneers Townsend, Botting & Kay, followed by a brief tenure at the law firm Belt, Cullen & Wigley. Subsequently, he worked at the Register office and later with solicitors Hicks, Daly & Price.
In 1863, Wright joined the public sector as a clerk at the General Post Office. Over time, he progressed through several positions: clerk in the Under-secretary's office; Crown Lands office in 1866; Chief Secretary's office in 1868; chief clerk within the Treasury department by 1870; accountant and receiver of revenue in 1873; and secretary to the Marine Board in 1874. Returning to the Chief Secretary's office as chief clerk in 1877, he also fulfilled duties as Acting Under-Secretary from 1879 until 1882 and acted as Superintendent of Census in 1881.
Appointed secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands in 1882, Wright held this post for fourteen years. During this period, he earned parliamentary commendation for introducing a wheat distribution map.
With the formation of the State Bank in 1896, Wright became its first Inspector-General, a capacity in which he served for twenty-four years until retiring in December 1920.
Other interests
Wright held the office of Mayor of Henley and Grange during two consecutive terms: 1916–17 and 1917–18.
A devoted member of the Congregational Church throughout his life, he initially attended the old Independent Chapel, actively participated at Manthorpe Memorial Church between 1897 and 1908, and later joined Henley Beach Congregational Church. There, from 1911 onward, he fulfilled responsibilities as both deacon and treasurer. Additionally, he represented his church as a delegate to the executive committee of the Congregational Union.
Family
On 22 May 1867, Wright wed Emma Elwin Olifent (21 April 1846 – 1932), daughter of James S. Olifent. The couple had three sons—all graduates of the Adelaide School of Mines—and four daughters:
- Arthur John Speller Wright (24 May 1869 – 17 July 1942), an engineer employed by Western Australia's Mines Department
- Ethel Minnie Wright (23 September 1870 – 28 December 1954), who married Albert Edward Kinnear in 1894 and lived at Tusmore
- Annie Elwin Wright (10 June 1872 – 1962), spouse of Henry Lloyd Snaith Nicol since 1943
- Harley Beaumont Wright (born 30 August 1873), a mining and metallurgical chemist with experience in Sudan; married Grace Maud Parkes in 1902
- Edith Rosalie Wright (1875 – 1971), married Walter Campbell Dobbie in 1903 and resided at Burnside
- Eva Martha Wright (11 December 1877 – 27 September 1952), wife of Harold Gay Fitch since 1906; founder of Fitch's Rubber Store located in the Adelaide Arcade
- George Lytton Wright (23 October 1879 – 10 March 1906), metallurgist at South Australian Government cyanide works who succumbed to influenza
The family initially lived on The Esplanade at Henley Beach before relocating to Howard Terrace in Knightsbridge. Wright passed away there following an extended illness and was privately interred at West Terrace Cemetery.
His sister Amelia Ann Wright (circa 1841 –1931) was married to Samuel Summers (circa 1830 –1906), youngest son of Rev. Samuel Summers from Bristol.