Alexander Buchanan

Alexander Buchanan (3 November 1810 – 21 May 1865) was an early pioneer in South Australia, responsible for bringing sheep overland from NSW, most notably for pastoralist, Frederick Dutton. He later served as manager at Anlaby Station. He was also a Justice of the Peace.

Early life Buchanan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Jean Logan and Alexander Buchanan, a coffee plantation owner with interests in Newport and St. Mary, Jamaica.

His parents returned to Jamaica soon after his birth, leaving Alexander in Scotland. He attended Glasgow High School and Glasgow College. He gained commercial experience in Glasgow and Manchester before moving to Canada.

In 1832, Buchanan relocated to Toronto, Canada, to establish a mercantile and importing business with his half brother. It was reputedly the first business to import from the UK directly to Toronto. On account of finding the business uncongenial, he returned to Scotland in 1838 and shortly after sailed from the port of Greenock, Scotland, for Adelaide, South Australia aboard the Welcome which arrived 3 April 1839.

Career

On 3 June 1839, two months after arriving in Adelaide, Buchanan boarded the Resource, bound for Sydney. He was part of a company of eight young men, consisting of William Sharples, Alexander Buchanan, James Turner, R. P. Cunningham, Edward Spicer, a Mr Coutts, a Mr Deas, and a Mr Edgar.

The young men, Buchanan included, sought to purchase sheep in New South Wales and walk them overland to South Australia as a speculation. The number of sheep obtained numbered around 13,000. To improve the viability of the endeavour, the young men also drove a flock of sheep, numbering 5,000, on behalf of Frederick Dutton, taking the total flock to 18,000.

Buchanan rode to a squatting station formerly occupied by Edward John Eyre. The site is described as being in the River Light Valley; possibly where modern-day Anlaby sits. Buchanan referred to the area as a 'gentleman's park...fine plains and thinly studded with trees.'

Frederick Dutton left for England in 1853, leaving the management of Anlaby Station to Buchanan. He improved sheep husbandry, breeding, and the condition of the land; efforts which were lauded by other colonists.

On 5 July 1858, Buchanan was appointed Justice of the Peace by command of the Governor of South Australia, Sir Richard Graves McDonnell. His appointment obliged him to serve as Magistrate at the Kapunda Police Court during the Rainbird Murders hearings in March 1861.

Death and funeral Buchanan died on 21 May 1865, at Anlaby Station.

His health had been poor for the last two years of his life. He succumbed to low fever, ascribed to overexertion at recent local land sales.

He was buried at the Kapunda Public Cemetery on 23 May. The funeral procession left Anlaby at 10am, followed by a long cortege of horse-drawn vehicles. The hearse was followed by Francis Stacker Dutton (brother of Frederick Dutton), Mr Jaffrey, Peter Miller (a trusted servant), and a son of Alexander Buchanan. The funeral service was held at Christ Church, Kapunda, led by The Rev. T. Sabine. Every shop and store in the town was closed as a sign of respect. Lake Buchanan , also known as Cudye-cudyena, was also named in his honour.

Following his death, Buchanan's name continued to be held in high regard. Half a century after his death, one of his surviving contemporaries commented, "in the North his name was a household word".