John MILLER (1840-1919)

Chairman, Campbelltown District Council, 1872-1873 (Newton Ward).

Photo https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/en/Members/All-Former-Members
(Reproduced with the permission of the Speaker of the House of Assembly)
This image is not to be reproduced without further permission being granted.

John Miller, junior, was born in Hindmarsh on 12 July 1840 to John Miller, senior, and Agnes McCormack, who immigrated from Lanarkshire, Scotland, around 1838. The family built ‘Stonehouse Farmhouse’, Maryvale Road, Athelstone, in about 1841, and lived there until John Miller, senior, was killed in an accident in 1847. The family then moved to Strathalbyn, leasing ‘Stonehouse Farm’ to various tenants.

John Miller, junior, later moved back to Athelstone in about 1862 and began an active community life, elected to the Payneham District Council representing Woodforde Ward in 1863, Chairman 1864-1865. Following the separation of Campbelltown from the Payneham District Council in 1868, John Miller, junior, was elected to represent Newton Ward for the Campbelltown District Council in 1870, Chairman 1872-1873. He was also the Treasurer of the Athelstone Institute and Elective Secretary of Newton Lodge M.U. (Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity), Payneham.

In 1873, he selected land in the Hundred of Crystal Brook, where he was a farmer at ‘Bullara’, Merriton, President of the North-West Agricultural Society, President of the S.A. Farmers' Association, and Member of the House of Assembly (M.H.A.) for Stanley in several Parliaments between 1884 and 1902. He married Mary Turner, second daughter of James Turner, Edwardstown, and niece of the late W. Rounsevell, Esq., J.P., Glenelg, in 1875. Then his second wife, Bessie Edith Puxton, eldest daughter of C. J. Puxton, Glenelg, in 1912.

His obituary mentioned that he joined the Bible Christian Church at Merriton in 1873, and was one of the founders of Way College; a college for boys run by the Bible Christian Church. (The buildings on Greenhill Road, Wayville were original a hospital and are now part of the Annesley College). Mr Miller was a member of the Advisory Board of Agriculture for several years. He had been living at his residence ‘Somerton’, Glenelg (now Somerton Park), when he died in 1919.

His second wife gifted John Miller Reserve, Somerton Park, to the City of Brighton (now City of Holdfast Bay) in 1940, one hundred years after his birth.

Stonehouse Farmhouse, Maryvale Road Athelstone c1966 (photo Campbelltown Public Library)

Researched and compiled by Di Booker, volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group. If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

References

WARBURTON, Elizabeth (1986) "From the river to the hills: Campbelltown 150 years." The Corporation of the City of Campbelltown, Campbelltown (S. Aust.), page 170.

MR. J. MILLER, M.P. (1890, September 13). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 5. Retrieved January 4, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202807926

Miller was elected to Stanley in 1884-5, 1890-93 and 1896-1902. https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/en/Members/All-Former-Members

Family Notices: Miller – Turner. (1875, October 19). The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION.). Retrieved January 4, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208178881

Family Notices: Miller – Puxton. (1912, December 7). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 18. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59249502

Crystal Brook: Farewell to Mr. John Miller. (1908, February 26). Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail (SA : 1898 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved January 4, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95444691

Obituary. (1919, September 27). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 17. Retrieved January 4, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89162669

£25 Donation Follows Surprise Land Gift (1939, July 25). News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131929654

VALUABLE GIFT TO BRIGHTON (1940, February 27). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74437022