State Library of South Australia

Henry Douglas [B 5571] • Photograph

Info

Share
- facebook
- twitter
- pinterest
- google+
- email
Buy
Download
Permanent link
Print

Prev Next

Restrictions

This image has no known copyright restrictions.

Please refer to the State Library's Conditions of use.

Learn more about copyright and our collection.

Physical description

Photograph; 14.3 cm x 10.3 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1890

Photographer

Bond & Co

Collection

Part of Portrait Collection

Subject

Douglas, Henry, 1817-1903
Emma (Ship)

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

Information supplied by Peter Hurford.

Historical information

[General description] Head and shoulders portrait of the subject wearing jacket and waistcoat. He has short hair and a mid-length beard. Henry Douglas arrived in the brig "Emma" on October 6th, 1836. He was an 18 yer old orphan and paid his fare on the Emma, however gave up his berth for Charles Hare, who was governor of the Yatala Prison. He was one of only a handful of very early land title holders on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. At the time of his landing via the sixth ship at Reeves Point, the total adult population on Kangaroo Island was less than 200. His land order was for city block 69, having met with Governor Gawler in London, and as a fully paid traveller on the Emma, he was most likely amongst the first ten pioneers who weren't employees or government public servants on salary. Being young and an orphan, in London his guardian and his solictor failed to supply Henry with his land receipt and he had to battle and badger the SA governors for 13 yrs before his power of attorney was sent from London.

Henry Douglas went on to successfully grow almonds, wheat and eventually grapes and make wine commercially until the South Australian government resumed occupancy of his property to construct the Happy Valley reservoir. Henry was believed to be an original carrier, operating a bullock wagon in 1837-1838 in partnership with Malpeace[?]. He was also the last person to speak to Sherrif Sam Smart before Smart's attempted assassination by ex-con Mageree who was the first person hung in SA. Henry, John Rymil and Dr. Montgomerey formed a private consortium to build one of the colony's earliest grist mills at Old Reynella town, ca. 1860. Douglas also purchased some of the earliest farm acres at Greens Plains for his sons. Douglas married Lydia Blunt at All Saints church in 1839. The union was officiated by the first colonial chaplain, Rev. Broughton. Douglas has approximately 1600 descendants throughout Australia and abroad. [On back of photograph] 'Henry Douglas per Emma / 1836 / See Solomon Jones group[s] in Public Library / Identified by S.B. Douglas, great-grandson'.

Digitisation information

Date

06/07/2005

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

2,277 x 3,197 pixels (7.3 MP)

Size

21.87 MB

Ask Us

If you would like further information about this image, please Ask Us