John M. Strawbridge (born 1814; died 1885) was the first District Clerk appointed to the District Council of Campbelltown, when it separated from Payneham in 1868.

Born at Frome, Somersetshire, England in 1814. His father, who was Supervisor of Excise, at Windsor, Berkshire, England, died in 1844. John Strawbridge immigrated to South Australia, in about 1853, with his wife, two children, and his mother, Ann Strawbridge (nee Smerdon), probably on the ship ‘Cleopatra’.

His younger brother, William Smerdon Strawbridge from Bristol, England, had previously arrived on the merchant vessel ‘Lord George Bentinck’ on 7th April 1852, and after living at Magill for a time, he settled at Norwood. The families’ initial decision to reside at Magill was probably influenced by their fellow passenger Patrick Auld of Auldana. William Strawbridge, junior, went on to become the Surveyor-General of South Australia in 1894, and lived at ‘Kiama’, Greenhill Road, Burnside.

A self-described Radical, John Strawbridge outlined his political views as follows:

“I was always a Radical in the home country, and as some persons in the colony know, smarted for my fancy. I am therefore no admirer of aristocratic institutions, or a supporter of exclusive property privileges, and would vote against any man who was an advocate for a plurality of votes on account of property; yet I think our colonial arrangements are sufficiently democratic to satisfy a man of the most liberal tendencies, and that the only property qualification which does exist, should be carefully, not to say jealously, guarded.”

The Radicals were a loose political party, which had no formal leadership, nor unified ideology. Popular Radicals agitated for the right to vote, freedom of the press, and relief from economic distress. In the United Kingdom, the Radicals were absorbed into the Liberal Party in 1859.

(Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 5 March 1853, page 4)

After leasing land at Magill since 1853, John Strawbridge purchased part Lot 22, Section 342, in the Village of Woodforde (now Magill), on 28th January 1859. The property contained three-acres and seven-perches of land at the north-eastern end of Magill Road, Magill, with an easement to enable access the quarry located in Lot 63, Section 849, Horsnell’s Gully.

On 9th September 1857, the Payneham District Council not happy with work being carried out by Mr. Cameron, the District Clerk, “Mr. [John] Strawbridge was elected to serve [as District Clerk] until the meeting in March 1858 at the rate of £120 per annum, say for six months, from the 15th September, 1857, at £2 per day.” Also sworn as one of the first District Constables for Payneham on 30th September 1857.

Upon the formation of the District Council of Campbelltown in 1868, Mr. John M. Strawbridge, senior, appointed District Clerk ‘pro tem’. Brief biographies of the members of the first District Council in a typescript entitled “Historical features from Payneham minute books years 1856-1867” includes the following information:

“[John Strawbridge] was appointed District Clerk of the Payneham District Council in 1857, some three years after arriving in South Australia from England. He is now 53 years of age and lives with his wife and son (also named John), and daughter, Emma, on a small vineyard on Third Creek abutting Magill Road, east of St. Bernard’s Road. He is a Sunday School teacher and lay preacher at Magill Baptist Church.

When the District Council of Stepney was split off from the old Payneham Council, he threw in his lot with the residents of the eastern half of the district. He continued to act as Clerk for those members of Payneham Council who did not transfer to Stepney, as well as to the members of ‘the Committee to protect the interests of the District’ and attended to the preparation of the necessary documents and petitions for the formation of the new council.

He presided at the election of the Chairman of the new Council and would possibly offer his services as District Clerk.”

Although the position of District Clerk was sometimes an onerous one, requiring him to ride around the neighbourhood collecting rates from reluctant residents, it was not considered a full-time occupation at this time, as the population was very small (fewer than 1,500 people).

(Boothby, Josiah. (1874). The Adelaide almanac and directory for South Australia.)

By profession, John Strawbridge was a brush maker and vigneron. In the 1851 England Census, he was listed as employing two men in the brush making business when in Cornwall. An advertisement by his son in 1885 indicates that he had established the same business in South Australia in 1855. By 1874, John Strawbridge had a brushware shop in Rundle Street, Adelaide, with a manufactory in Woodforde, Magill. He later sold the shop, but maintained the manufactory at Woodforde, passing on both the brush making business and the vineyard to his son, John Strawbridge, junior.

Following the death of his wife, Anne Elizabeth Strawbridge, in 1877, John Strawbridge married Lydia Mary Ann Strawbridge (formerly Bunn, nee Looker) in 1882.

After a period of illness, John Strawbridge submitted his resignation as District Clerk of the District Council of Campbelltown on 10th June 1885. The Minute Books of the Council record the event as follows:

10th June 1885

The resignation of Mr. John Strawbridge senior as Clerk and Overseer of works for the District was received after a service of twenty-eight years the reason being ill health.

Proposed by Mr. Philpot and seconded by Mr. Russell that the resignation be accepted and that Mr. Strawbridge receive full pay ‘till the end of the year June 30, 1885. Carried.

Proposed by Mr. Russell seconded by Mr. Mines – that the Chairman and the acting Clerk convey the regrets and condolences of the Council to Mr. Strawbridge. Carried.

17th June 1885

Letter to be forwarded to the late Clerk Mr. John Strawbridge senior was signed by all the Councillors and to be entered in the fair minute book.

Mr. Jno. Strawbridge senr.

Dear Sir,

We the undersigned members of the District Council of Campbelltown very sincerely regret the cause of your resignation as Clerk and etcetera, and beg to assure you that had your health not failed – a successor would not have been sought. Allow us to return you our thanks for the able manner in which you have always performed the duties devolving on you – erring only in being too civil and obliging. –

The fact that you have held the position so many years is a proof of the satisfaction you have given, and in fact the Councillors are continually hearing expressions of esteem for and sympathy with you in your affliction.

Hoping that the remainder of your days – be they few or many – may be such as shall, in your Heavenly Father’s hand, fit you for the higher life for which you have so long been living.

We are Dear Sir, Yours Respectfully,
E. S. Nation, acting Chairman
William Russell
John Mines
Samuel Philpot
J. Taylor Holmes, Clerk (acting)

John Strawbridge, senior, died on 7th July 1885, aged 70 years, and was buried at the Magill Cemetery in Jackson Street. He was one of the most prominent and influential people in the establishment of the Campbelltown City Council, and a leading figure in the history of Magill.

His son, John Strawbridge, junior, was elected Councillor for Woodforde Ward, District Council of Campbelltown, on 5th July 1886 and served for three years.

Researched and compiled by Helen Thiselton, Local History Officer.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact Helen on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

References

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. Cleopatra. (1853, February 2). Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), p. 2. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207010354

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. Bentinck. (1852, April 8). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38464933

THE ELECTORAL LAW. John Strawbridge, senior. (1866, October 15). The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), p. 3. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28791950

RADICALS (UK). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radicals_(UK)

FAMILY NOTICES. Deaths. John Strawbridge. (1885, July 7). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved December 1, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199131569

FUNERAL NOTICES. John Strawbridge. (1885, July 7). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved December 1, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199131566

ADVERTISING. John Strawbridge, Brush Maker, Magill. (1885, July 14). The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), p. 1. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36309983

DEATH OF THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL. William Strawbridge, junior. (1911, July 1). Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), p. 41. Retrieved November 30, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164727546

CHURCHES AND, CHURCH AFFAIRS. The Magill Baptist Church. (1924, July 5). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 4. Retrieved November 30, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59020054

OBITUARY. John Strawbridge, junior. (1925, May 30). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 23. Retrieved November 30, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89366940

STRAWBRIDGE John [the Elder] File 7286, 21/07/1885, Book 35 Folio 560. GRS 1334/1 Probate files (wills) - Testamentary Causes Jurisdiction, Supreme Court of South Australia, 1844-1893.

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, Vol. 3 Folio 113, Part Lot 22, Section 342, Village of Woodforde, 3-acres and 7-perches, 28th January 1859. “Granted the seventh day of March 1839 under the Hand and Seal of George Gawler, Esquire, Resident Commissioner of the said Province, to John Hallett of Adelaide, Esquire.”

CAMPBELLTOWN CITY COUNCIL. (Local History Folder) Typescript. “Historical features from Payneham minute books years 1856-1867.” Ian Reddy Local History Room, Campbelltown Public Library, South Australia. Viewed November 30, 2022.

MINUTE BOOK (1885) District Council of Campbelltown. Campbelltown, S. Aust.