David John Gordon

Sir David John Gordon (4 May 1865 – 12 February 1946) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1911 to 1913, before going into state politics and becoming a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1913 to 1944 (president from 1932). He was briefly Minister of Education and Minister of Repatriation under SA Premier Archibald Peake in 1917.

Early life Born in Riverton, South Australia, the son of Thomas Gordon, Scottish carpenter, miller, and farmer, Gordon was educated at Stanley Grammar School, Watervale before his family moved to Ardrossan, Yorke Peninsula where he worked on the family farm. and agricultural editor of The Observer (where he sometimes wrote under the pseudonym "Wuronga"), and contributed leading articles to both papers. He was in the press gallery of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly for 17 years, and for 10 years was chief of the Hansard staff. As "Timoleon", he contributed the "City Scratchings" column in The Kapunda Herald from 1901 to 1909.

He was invited to accompany Clement Giles on his expedition to central Australia, riding on horseback. On his return journey he interviewed Lord Kintore, who was returning from Port Darwin, at Charlotte Waters, and accompanied him to Adelaide. Returning from the trek, Gordon became an enthusiastic supporter of the development of central Australia, writing numerous books and articles on the subject over the next twenty years, including The Central State and The 'Nile' of Australia. Additionally, Gordon edited several editions of the annual Handbook of South Australia.

State politics Gordon lost his seat at the 1913 federal election, and was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in November 1913.

Gordon was appointed Minister for Education and Repatriation by Premier Archibald Peake in July 1917 but resigned the next month, His appointment was controversial, as he was nominated by the federal Bruce–Page government against the wishes of the state Labor government led by John Gunn. State attorney-general Bill Denny publicly criticised the appointment as partisan, although The Advertiser described it as "a well-merited recognition of distinguished service … both to the Commonwealth and the State".

Personal life Referred to as "a highly principled man with a strong personality", Gordon died at his home in Victoria Avenue, Unley Park, South Australia, survived by two sons and two daughters (his wife predeceasing him by 12 years). One son, Douglas, served in the Legislative Council while the second, John, was a pilot who was awarded the Military Cross in World War I.