George Brookman

Sir George Brookman c.1920

Sir George Brookman KBE (15 April 1840 – 20 June 1927) was a South Australian businessman who made a fortune from a gold discovery in Western Australia, and is remembered as a generous benefactor of the South Australian School of Mines and Industries and the University of Adelaide.

History

Brookman was born 15 April 1840 in Glasgow, Scotland, the eldest son of typesetter Benjamin Brookman (ca. 1827 – 11 June 1917) and his wife Jane (d. 1 March 1881).[1] The family emigrated to South Australia in 1852 on the Water Lily, arriving at Port Adelaide on 5 May and settled in Prospect. After completing his education at the schools of James Bath and E. C. Mitton,[2] he found employment with grocery firm D & J Fowler. Then, with fellow-employee William Finlayson jun., he took over Fowler's retail arm in King William Street.[2] He set himself up as a stock and share broker and earned a position in the Adelaide Stock Exchange in 1890.[3]

In 1893 he founded, with brother William Brookman and James W. Pearce, the Coolgardie Gold Mining and Prospecting Co. Ltd. syndicate which financed the exploration and proving of a mining lease "Ivanhoe" in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, in what was later dubbed the "Golden Mile" and made its backers incredibly wealthy. The syndicate owed its success to dogged determination in the face of criticism from experts, as the mineral was in a form that had not been encountered before[3] and through "Brookman's extraordinarily skilful financial transactions and able administration".[2]

He stood successfully for the Central District vacancy in South Australia's Legislative Council in 1901[4] caused by the resignation of Charles Kingston, who took up a seat in the new Federal Parliament. He was re-elected, but did not stand for the elections of 1910.[5]

Business Activities

Brookman Building c.1907

Public works

Recognition

Family

Parents

George's mother Jane died on 1 March 1881.

His father, Benjamin (ca.1827 – 11 June 1917), then married Charlotte Elizabeth Ragless (ca.1847 – 1945) on 27 September 1883. Charlotte Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of John Ragless (ca.1815 – 27 May 1899)[11]

Their home was "Kelvin Lodge", (perhaps 3 Daphne St.) Prospect. After the death of her husband, Charlotte Elizabeth lived with her daughter Charlotte Evelyn "Lottie" Botten.[11]

Siblings

Children of Benjamin and Jane included


Children of Benjamin and Charlotte Elizabeth included

Family of George Brookman

Afternoon Tea at the Brookman's, c.1895.
L-to-R: Mrs. Brookman, Norman, Miss Ada Crossley and May

He married Eliza Martha Marshall (10 February 1859 – 26 January 1931) at St Kilda, Victoria on 13 February 1878.
Their children included:

Their home was either "Craigmellon" at 3 Edwin Terrace, Gilberton, or "Ivanhoe" at 9 Edwin Terrace.[16][17] He died on 27 June 1927 at "Blair Athol", Avenel Gardens, Medindie.[18] He was survived by his wife, his daughter, and two of his sons.[2]

References

  1. "Mr. Benjamin Brookman". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 1 November 1915. p. 9. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 R. M. Gibbs, 'Brookman, Sir George (1850–1927)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 2 December 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "A Public-Spirited Citizen". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 21 June 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  4. "The State Elections". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 3 June 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. "The State Elections". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 11 March 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Biographical". The Chronicle (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 23 October 1920. p. 38. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  7. "Sir George Brookman". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 11 June 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. "The Late Sir George Brookman". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 21 June 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  9. "Welcome to Anzacs". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 5 December 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  10. Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), 19 October 1920, It's an Honour
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Obituary – Charlotte E Brookman". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 14 July 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  12. John Ragless Brookman was educated at Whinham College, the University of Adelaide and the SA School of Mines and Industries. He joined the Adelaide Electric Supply Company as a draughtsman in 1909 and was promoted to Engineer in 1913. He was awarded Master of Engineering in 1925 for his thesis on relay protection for electrical circuits. In 1947 he was appointed Deputy Manager and Engineer in charge of distribution and supply. He was a foundation member of the SA Institute of Engineers and in 1927 was Chairman of the SA division of the Institution of Engineers. He was a vice-president of the School of Mines and Industries. – Cumming, D. A. and Moxham, G. They Built South Australia published by the authors 1986 ISBN 0 9589111 0 X
  13. J. H. Love, 'Wilson, Sir Thomas George (1876–1958)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 10 December 2012.
  14. "In Divorce". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 2 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  15. (Harry) Norman Brookman lived at "Burbrook", a farm near Meadows, South Australia and was member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1941 to 1949, when he was killed in a car crash near Noarlunga. "Killed in Car Smash.". The Chronicle (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 28 April 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  16. Historic Landmark Property, 3 Edwin Terrace, Gilberton, priceypads.com
  17. Heritage Plan Amendment Reports, Walkerville News, April–June 2007, The Corporation of the Town of Walkerville, pg.3
  18. "Family Notices". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 21 June 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 2 December 2012. – Death notice of George Brookman.

External links