Henry Ayers

Sir Henry Ayers (now pron. "airs") (1 May 1821 – 11 June 1897) was the eighth Premier of South Australia, serving a record five times between 1863 and 1873.

His lasting memorial was in the name Ayers Rock, now better-known as Uluru, which was named in 1873 by the explorer William Gosse.

Overview Ayers was born on 1 May 1821 at Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, the son of William Ayers, of the Portsmouth dockyard, and Elizabeth, née Breakes. After education at the Beneficial Society's School (Portsea) he entered a law office in 1832. Henry Roach was chief Captain, responsible for day-to-day operations, from 1847 to 1867. Within a year the mine employed over 1000 men. For nearly 50 years, Ayers was in control of the operation, known as the "Monster Mine", initially as the secretary and later as the managing director. He made his wealth from the mine, which also secured the wealth of the colony of South Australia. knighted as a Knight Commander of the same order (KCMG) in 1872, and raised to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 1894 Birthday Honours.

He died in Adelaide on 11 June 1897. His wife had died in 1881, and he was survived by three sons and a daughter.

Legacy He was the first chairman of the South Australian Gas Company.

Ayers resided in Ayers House from 1855 until 1897 and, in the 1860s, expanded it from a nine-room house into a grand mansion. His youngest child, Lucy, was born there. During Sir Henry's parliamentary service, Ayers House was used for cabinet meetings, parliamentary dinners, and grand balls.

Family Henry Ayers married Anne Potts (1812 – 13 August 1881) at Alverstokein around 1839. and two daughters: Frank Richman Ayers (1842 – 23 April 1906) Henry "Harry" Lockett Ayers (1844–1905), married Ada Fisher Morphett (5 May 1843 – 1939) on 1 October 1866. She is remembered for contributing the "Tiffany windows" to St Paul's Church, Pulteney Street. Frederick "Fred" Ayers (1847 – 1 February 1897) married Evelyn Cameron Page on 8 November 1870. He was a prominent member of the South Australian Jockey Club. Margaret Elizabeth Ayers (1848 – 19 September 1887) married Arthur Robert Lungley on 29 April 1875

(Arthur) Ernest Ayers (1852 – 2 April 1921) married Barbara Agnes Milne on 30 April 1878. Barbara was a daughter of William Milne MP. Lucy Josephine Ayers (1856 – 11 May 1945) married John Bagot on 24 September 1878. John was a grandson of Charles Hervey Bagot.

Ayers' remains were buried at the West Terrace Cemetery (Road 3, Path 19).