Henry Ayers
Sir Henry Ayers was the eighth Premier of South Australia, serving a record five times between 1863 and 1873.
His lasting memorial was in the name Ayers Rock, now better-known as Uluru, which was named in 1873 by the explorer William Gosse.
Overview
Ayers was born at Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, the son of William Ayers, of the Portsmouth dockyard, and Elizabeth, née Breakes. Educated at the Beneficial Society's School he entered a law office in 1832. Less than a month after his marriage in 1840, he emigrated with his wife, Anne, to South Australia, as a carpenter, with free passages.Until 1845, he worked as a law clerk, and was then appointed secretary of the South Australian Mining Association, which owned the copper mine at Burra Burra. Henry Roach was chief Captain, responsible for day-to-day operations, from 1847 to 1867. Within a year the mine employed over 1000 men. For nearly 50 years, Ayers was in control of the operation, known as the "Monster Mine", initially as the secretary and later as the managing director. He made his wealth from the mine, which also secured the wealth of the colony of South Australia.
Politics
On 9 March 1857, Ayers was elected to the first South Australian Legislative Council under responsible government, the youngest member elected.In March 1863 Ayers was selected as one of the three South Australian representatives at the inter-colonial conference on uniform tariffs and inland customs duties. He also represented the colony at several other conferences from 1864 to 1877. On 4 July 1863 Ayers became minister without portfolio in the first Dutton cabinet. This ministry resigned just 11 days later however, as council demanded that it should have an executive minister to represent the government and Dutton refused. Ayers formed his first ministry as Premier and Chief Secretary on 15 July 1863.
In 1881, Ayers was elected President of the South Australian Legislative Council.
He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1870, knighted as a Knight Commander of the same order in 1872, and raised to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1894 Birthday Honours.
He died in Adelaide on 11 June 1897. His wife had died in 1881, and he was survived by three sons and a daughter.
Legacy
He was the first chairman of the South Australian Gas Company.He was the author of Pioneer Difficulties on Founding South Australia.
Ayers resided in Ayers House from 1855 until 1897 and, in the 1860s, expanded it from a nine-room house into a grand mansion. His youngest child, Lucy, was born there. During Sir Henry's parliamentary service, Ayers House was used for cabinet meetings, parliamentary dinners, and grand balls.
Family
Henry Ayers married Anne Potts at Alverstokein around 1839. Anne was a sister of winemaker Frank Potts. They had four surviving sons and two daughters:- Frank Richman Ayers
- Henry "Harry" Lockett Ayers, married Ada Fisher Morphett on 1 October 1866. She is remembered for contributing the "Tiffany windows" to St Paul's Church, Pulteney Street.
- Frederick "Fred" Ayers married Evelyn Cameron Page on 8 November 1870. He was a prominent member of the South Australian Jockey Club.
- Margaret Elizabeth Ayers married Arthur Robert Lungley on 29 April 1875
- Ernest Ayers married Barbara Agnes Milne on 30 April 1878. Barbara was a daughter of William Milne MP.
- Lucy Josephine Ayers married John Bagot on 24 September 1878. John was a grandson of Charles Hervey Bagot.