Walter Duffield
Walter Duffield | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1816 Great Baddow, Essex, England |
| Died | Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day Gawler, South Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Pastoralist, politician |
| Years active | 1839–1882 |
| Known for | Treasurer of South Australia (1865–1867) |
Walter Duffield (1816 – 5 November 1882) was a prominent pastoralist and political figure in colonial South Australia, notably holding the position of Treasurer of South Australia between 1865 and 1867.
Originating from Great Baddow, Essex, England, Duffield was the son of farmer William Duffield and sibling to solicitor William Ward Duffield. He emigrated to South Australia aboard the William Barras, arriving in December 1839. His early career involved managing Jacob Hagen's estate at Echunga, where he contributed to producing some of the earliest wines in the colony. Subsequently, he established the Para Para estate near Gawler, where he specialized in the production of hams, wines, orchard fruits, and oversaw a substantial flock of 40,000 Merino sheep.
In September 1847, Duffield founded a flour milling and merchant enterprise in Gawler known as "The Victoria Steam Flour Mill," originally set up by Stephen King JP. In partnership with Harrold Brothers, the business operated as Duffield, Harrold and Company (later renamed Duffield, Harrold and Hurd). He also held ownership of extensive pastoral holdings including Weinteriga and Outalpa stations.
Duffield served as the representative for Barossa in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1857 until 1868, and again from 1870 to 1871. His tenure as Treasurer occurred under the administrations of premiers John Hart and James Boucaut, spanning October 1865 to May 1867. Later, from 1873 to 1879, he was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council, during a time when one-third of its members were elected on a statewide basis.
He passed away in Gawler on 5 November 1882 and was interred at Willaston General Cemetery.
Family
Walter Duffield wed Phoebe Johnstone (circa 1814 – 15 May 1890) on 7 March 1842. Their offspring included:
- Mary Ann Hawkes Duffield (1844–1902), who married Eli Thomas Humphry in 1880
- Louisa Caroline Duffield (born 1846), married Frank Makin in 1870
- Eleanor Duffield (1848–1934), who wed J. Davies Thomas MD (circa 1845–1893) in 1878; Thomas had previously been a partner of H. T. Whittell MD
- Emily Martha Duffield (born 1849), married Thomas Hopkins Bowen in 1873; Bowen later served as attorney for the Duffield estate
- David Walter Duffield (1851–1922), who married Florence Evangeline Kirkpatrick in 1878
- Walter Geoffrey Duffield (1879–1929), his grandson and noted astronomer, buried at Mount Stromlo