John Downer

Sir John William Downer, KCMG, KC (6 July 1843 – 2 August 1915) was an Australian politician who served two terms as Premier of South Australia, from 1885 to 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893. He later entered federal politics and served as a Senator for South Australia from 1901 to 1903. He was the first of four Australian politicians from the Downer family dynasty.

Early life Downer was born in Adelaide on 6 July 1843. He was one of four sons born to Jane (née Field) and Henry Downer; his father was a tailor. His parents had immigrated from England to South Australia in 1838, among the first waves of British immigrants brought out by the South Australian Company. In 1862 he took first prize in the statewide examinations.

Federal politics Downer was elected to the Senate at the inaugural 1901 federal election, placing fourth in the poll and winning election to a three-year term. He was endorsed by the Australasian National League. In parliament he repeated that he was "abstractedly a free-trader but by force of circumstance a fair trader".

Downer died of cancer at his home in North Adelaide on 2 August 1915, aged 72. He was interred at North Road Cemetery. According to Henry Reynolds, Roberts concluded that Downer's name occurred with greater frequency than any of his colleagues, and he pointed out that Downer, as a trained lawyer, attorney-general between 1881 and 1884, and both premier and attorney-general 1885–1887, he must have deliberately ignored the Aboriginal rights which were embodied by law in the pastoral leases in that area. He also appeared as attorney for William Willshire, a policeman known for his brutality who was acquitted of the murder of a group of Aboriginal people in 1891 at Tempe Downs Station in the NT. Even at the time, there was outrage at the not guilty verdict, and questioning of the validity of the process, which took place in Port Augusta.

Family and legacy

Downer married twice: firstly in 1871 to Elizabeth Henderson (c. 1852 – 3 May 1896), daughter of the controversial Rev. James Henderson; and secondly, in Sydney 29 November 1899 to Una Stella Haslingden Russell, daughter of Henry Edward Russell. With Elizabeth he had three children, John Henry (born 1872), James Frederick (born 1874) and Harold Sydney (born in 1875 and died in infancy). The son of his second marriage was Alexander Russell "Alick" Downer (born 1910), who served in the Menzies government, was knighted, and served as Australian High Commissioner in London, and whose son, Alexander Downer served as leader of the (Opposition) Liberal party in 1994 and Foreign Minister in the Howard government.

The home he purchased in 1880 at 42 Pennington Terrace, North Adelaide, is now St Mark's College and the original part of the building is known as Downer House. A draft of the Australian Constitution was prepared in the ballroom in 1897.

A brother and partner in his business, Henry Edward Downer (1836–1905), entered the South Australian parliament in 1881 and was attorney-general in the John Cockburn ministry from May to August 1890. Another brother, George Downer (1839–1916) was his partner in the legal firm G & J Downer and a prominent businessman.

In 1887, at the Imperial Conference in London (now the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting), Downer was created KCMG, recommended to the Queen by the Marquis of Salisbury. During retirement, he joined the Adelaide University Council and became president of the Commonwealth Club.

The Canberra suburb of Downer, Australian Capital Territory, was named after him in 1960. On Garema Place, Canberra stands a commemorative sculpted fountain titled Father and Son and was presented by his son Sir Alick in 1964.

Electoral history

South Australia House of Assembly Election year Electorate Party Votes % Result 1878 Barossa Independent unopposed 1881 1884 502 24.0% n/a 1887 unopposed 1890 658 25.4% n/a 1893 National Defence League 1,008 30.3% 4.9 1896 1,549 24.5% 5.8 1899 1,786 33.8% 9.3

Legislative Council Election year Electorate Party Votes % Result 1905 Southern District Independent 3,800 28.3% new 1912 Liberal Union 7,073 36.7% 8.4

Australian Senate Election year State Party Votes % Result 1901 South Australia Protectionist 30,493 60.6% new