Henry Dutton (pastoralist)
Henry Dutton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1844 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 1914-08-25 |
| Occupation(s) | Pastoralist, banker, yachtsman |
| Known for | Prominent pastoralist in South Australia, owner of Anlaby estate, owner of steam yacht Adele |
Henry Dutton (1844 – 25 August 1914) was a prominent pastoralist in South Australia, often referred to as the "Squire of Anlaby". He was the father of Henry Hampden Dutton and the grandfather of the author Geoffrey Dutton.
History
Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Henry was the son of (William) Hampden Dutton (1805–1849) and Charlotte da Silva Dutton, née Cameron (1813–1885), who was the stepdaughter of Captain John Finnis. His family held a notable place in South Australian history; his uncle, Francis Stacker Dutton, played a key role in the development of copper mining near Kapunda and served as Premier.
In 1838, his parents relocated to South Australia, initially settling briefly in Mount Barker. Hampden persuaded his brother Frederick to move from Melbourne to South Australia in 1841, where they jointly acquired the "Koonunga" estate with Captain Bagot. Frederick later purchased Finnis's estate northeast of Kapunda in 1843, renaming it Anlaby.
Henry’s father passed away when he was just five years old. Following this, his mother resided in North Adelaide. Henry received his education at St Peter's College and began working at the Bank of South Australia in 1869. His banking career included assignments at Yankalilla, Brighton, and Mount Pleasant. By 1890, he had risen to manager at Mount Pleasant when his uncle Frederick died, bequeathing Anlaby to him.
He devoted considerable resources to enhancing the Anlaby homestead, evolving it from its simple beginnings in 1841 into an impressive mansion surrounded by picturesque grounds. Although portions of Anlaby were later subdivided for soldier and closer settlement schemes, Henry expanded his landholdings by purchasing North Booborowie near Burra alongside partner John Melrose, as well as acquiring the Koonowla vineyard and orchard located between Saddleworth and Auburn. He bought Koonowla in 1906 for £10,000 and maintained ownership until his death.
After the 1907 liquidation of James Martin & Company, Henry took over the enterprise and introduced streamlining measures that preserved its operations throughout his lifetime, providing economic benefits to the community of Gawler.
He died following a brief illness caused by a cerebral blood clot and was interred at Anlaby.
Yacht Adele
As a member of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, Dutton owned the steam yacht Adele, constructed by Hawthorn and Co., Ltd., which was considered among Australia's premier pleasure vessels. The yacht’s dimensions included:
Built with steel bulwarks lined with teak panels, Adele featured both steam-driven and manual steering systems. Its Oregon pine masts were rigged as a schooner. The vessel contained eight cabins adorned with polished hardwood paneling and equipped with modern conveniences such as hot and cold water basins. It consistently achieved speeds between 11 and 11.5 knots.
The yacht carried four auxiliary boats: a 23-foot gig, an 18-foot cutter, a 14-foot dinghy, and a 22-foot motor launch powered by a Gardner engine with a Gaines reversible propeller. Henry Way Rymill—longtime Commodore of the R.S.A.Y.S. and godson to Dutton—recalled annual voyages lasting three months aboard Adele. Registered with the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes, Dutton held the privilege to fly the White Ensign.
St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Hamilton, South Australia
In 1896, Henry Dutton commissioned the construction of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Hamilton as a tribute to his uncle Frederick Dutton and his daughter Ethel da Silva Dutton, who tragically passed away in 1892. Situated approximately 8 km west of Anlaby, the church’s design was created by architect Frank J. Naish, with E. James & Company from Kapunda responsible for its construction. The foundation stone was placed by Dutton on 9 September 1896, and the church was consecrated by Bishop John Harmer on 2 December of the same year.
A marble memorial tablet honors Helen Elizabeth Dutton alongside Ethel da Silva Dutton. Between 1902 and 1903, the church underwent enhancements including the installation of an English oak reredos and chancel screen, new altar rails, and paintings depicting biblical scenes. In 1905, an organ chamber was constructed to accommodate a Frederick Taylor organ, which was dedicated on 11 December.
From 1906 to 1907, extensions were made to the chancel and nave, along with the addition of a tower featuring a baptistry; a pink marble font was also installed during this period. These improvements were consecrated by Bishop Arthur Nutter Thomas on 7 February 1907.
The current organ, being the third instrument installed at St. Matthew’s, was purchased by Henry Dutton as a gift and first played in October 1914 by his daughter-in-law Emily Dutton. This replaced the earlier Frederick Taylor organ, which had proven unreliable and was subsequently moved to St. Oswald's Anglican Church in Parkside. Unfortunately, Henry Dutton did not live to witness the completion of this installation.
Other interests
Henry Dutton maintained a strong commitment to his Anglican faith while working in banking; during his time in Brighton, he served as a church warden at St Jude's Church, Brighton and frequently performed as an organist.
An enthusiastic gardener, Henry earned awards for pelargoniums, begonias, dahlias, and ferns throughout the 1880s at events hosted by the Mount Pleasant Agricultural, Horticultural, and Floricultural Society. He remained well-informed through gardening publications and steadily expanded his plant collection. The inheritance of Anlaby enabled him to invest significantly in horticulture, including commissioning a large conservatory designed by A. Simpson & Son from Adelaide.
Family
Henry Dutton (1844–1914) wed Helen Elizabeth Thomas of Geelong (circa 1844–1901) on 10 May 1873 at St. George's Church in Queenscliff, Victoria. They had two children:
- Ethel da Silva Dutton (1876–1892), who died following a fall on Granite Island.
- Henry Hampden Dutton (1879–1932), heir to 'Anlaby' from 1914 and noted for his motoring achievements. He married Emily Martin (1884–1962), daughter of John Felix Martin from Gawler, on 29 November 1905; their offspring included:
- John Hansborough Dutton (1906–1989)
- Richard Hampden Dutton (1909–1940), who married Margaret Elizabeth Jean Newland in 1933; they divorced in 1940. She later became the wife of Sidney Downer.
- Bryony Helen Carola Dutton (1918–2005), initially engaged to William Weatherly in 1940 but married American serviceman William Robert Curkeet in 1942; after returning to South Australia and divorcing, she wed prominent lawyer Sir Richard Arthur "Dick" Blackburn OBE in 1951. They had two children:
- Charlotte Blackburn (later Calder)
- Tom Blackburn SC
- Geoffrey Piers Henry Dutton (1922–1998), acclaimed author