George Strickland Kingston

Sir George Strickland Kingston (23 August 1807 – 26 November 1880)^[1] was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia. He arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836.^[2] Kingston was also the first Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.^[1]

Early life

Kingston was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, one of five children of George Kingston and Hester Holland. Strickland's father owned a lumberyard, a tenement (Kingston Buildings), and was credited with being involved in the three canal plans for Bandon.^{[citation needed]} Strickland immigrated to England and was employed in Birmingham in 1832. He subsequently took an active part in promoting the South Australian Act in 1834 and helped to lobby successfully for its passage through the House of Commons.^[3]

Deputy Surveyor, South Australia Colony

Kingston was appointed deputy surveyor to the new province and sailed with most of the surveying party in the Cygnet in March 1836.

Kingston's ability as a surveyor was frequently questioned and his lack of qualifications and blunders in the survey of Adelaide caused Light to have some of his work re-surveyed by Assistant Surveyors Boyle Travers Finniss and George Owen Ormsby. Completion of the survey of the city was delayed for a fortnight because of his mistakes.^[4] However it was he who was spared to return to England in August 1837 to ask for reinforcements for the Survey Department.^[3] The colonisation commissioners sent him back next June with orders unpalatable to Light, who resigned with all but three of his staff. Kingston resigned soon after Governor George Gawler's arrival in October 1838 ^[3] and Ormsby, "one of the best, if not the very best, on the staff of Col. Light", was put in temporary charge of the survey, with directions 'to proceed with the utmost despatch'.^[5]

Later career

Kingston established himself as a civil engineer, architect and surveyor, and in 1840 the Adelaide Municipal Council briefly engaged him as town surveyor. He was later engaged as inspector of public works and, buildings. Among his works still standing are the south-eastern corner of

On 10 July 1851, Kingston was sworn in as a member of South Australia's first elected parliament and held his seat in the Legislative Council until 2 February 1857.^[1] On 9 March 1857, Kingston was elected to the newly established House of Assembly and became the first Speaker on 22 April 1857. Kingston held this position until 22 March 1860 and again from 31 March 1865 until his death on 26 November 1880.^[1] Kingston represented The Burra and Clare from 9 March 1857 to 22 March 1860 and Stanley from 6 May 1861 until his death.^[1]

Kingston was prominent in forming the

In 1858 Kingston was part of the team who surveyed the namesake town of

Kingston was knighted in 1870. He died in 1880 aboard the RMS Malwa on his way to India and was buried at sea.

Other interests

Kingston was interested in the Volunteer movement and was once captain of the East Adelaide Rifles.

Kingston married three times, being widowed in his first two marriages.[3] He married his first wife Henrietta Ann McDonough in 1829; she died ten years later and their only child died soon after childbirth. Six children were born to his second wife, Ludovina Catherina da Silva Cameron (daughter of soldier Charles Cameron (1779–1827)^[6]), after their marriage on 10 April 1841. She died ten years later and Kingston married widow Emma Lipson (1816–1876), daughter of Thomas Lipson R.N., South Australia's first harbourmaster, on 4 December 1856 (no children resulted from this marriage).

• His youngest daughter, Charlotte Julian Kingston (11 September 1845 – 20 May 1913) married Hubert Giles (21 October 1842 – 11 August 1901), son of William Giles, on 17 March 1880.
• Strickland Gough "Pat" Kingston (1848–1897) married Kathleen Pittar Stanton in 1879. In 1894 she founded Yoothamurra School in Glenelg.
• His youngest son,
  Charles Cameron Kingston
  (22 October 1850 – 11 May 1908) was Premier of South Australia from 1893 to 1899.

Memorials

Kingston's name has been applied to the following places in South Australia -

• Ayers House
  , Adelaide
• Old Adelaide Gaol, Adelaide
• Original Treasury Building, Victoria Square, Adelaide
• Government House, Adelaide
• Customs House, Glenelg
• Cummins House, 23 Sheoak Avenue, Novar Gardens, South Australia
• Colonel William Light Monument, Light Square, Adelaide (demolished 1905)^[7]
• Kingston Historical House, Brighton
• Lochend House, Campbelltown, the home of Charles James Fox Campbell^[8]
• Residential Cottage Home, 3 Market Street, Burra

References