Samuel Tomkinson
Samuel Tomkinson J.P. was a South Australian banker and politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1885 to 1894, representing Southern District, and from 1897 to 1900 representing Central District.
History
Tomkinson was born in Denbighshire, Wales, and served as a clerk in a Liverpool shipping office, before working in the North and South Wales Bank, first as teller, and rapidly rose through the ranks to become Director. In 1850 he accepted the position of Manager of the Bank of Australasia in Sydney. In 1851 he transferred to Adelaide, replacing Marshall Macdermott, whose daughter he married in 1853. They initially lived on King William Street, but sometime before 1860 acquired "Mangona" at 9 Blackburn Drive, Crafers, close to Summit Road, Mount Lofty, which became their summer residence and later, as "St Barberie" owned by C. T. C. de Crespigny and family.Around the time he arrived in Adelaide, the gold rush to Victoria was underway, and South Australia was undergoing a crisis brought about by shortage of currency to pay for the gold being brought back to the Colony. Moves were made for the creation of a South Australian gold coinage, led by George Tinline. This was strenuously opposed by Tomkinson in representations to the Legislative Council. He retired from the bank in October 1879.
Other interests
- He was a director of the Bank of Adelaide, the South Australian Gas Company, Bakers Creek Gold Mining Company.
- He was an active member of the Volunteer Force.
- He was for twenty years a member of the Adelaide Licensing Bench.
- He was a member of the Adelaide Club and the Old Colonists' Club.
- While living in the city he was an active member of Trinity Church Adelaide, and when at Mount Lofty worshipped at the Church of the Epiphany, Crafers, and held responsible positions with both Anglican churches.
- He was a frequent letter writer to The Register.
- He was a member of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, SA Branch, and served with Clement Sabine as hon. auditors.
Politics
Legacy
The Hundred of Tomkinson, a cadastral unit in the Mid North region of South Australia, and the Tomkinson Ranges in the north-west corner of South Australia, were both named in his honour.Family
Samuel married Louisa Charlotte Macdermott on 7 September 1853. They had a residence on King William Street in 1854, and later also a residence at Mt Lofty, which they occupied mostly in the warmer months. They had a large family, many of whom, such as eldest son George Arnold Tomkinson BA, LLB lived their entire adult lives in England. Two notable exceptions were:- Amy Louisa Tomkinson JP., cited as his eldest daughter, was active with Travellers' Aid Society, Kindergarten Union, Mothers' and Babies' Health Association, Women's Non-Party Association and many other cultural, civic and charitable organizations. She was appointed J.P. in 1917.
- Mary Harriet Tomkinson was also prominent in a wide range of charitable and philanthropic organizations including the Adelaide Rescue Society, the Victoria League of S.A. and the British Women's Alliance, League of the Empire and Army Nurses' Fund. She served as hon. treasurer for the Women's Non-Party Association, Travellers' Aid Society and Lady Victoria Buxton Girls' Club, secretary for St. John's Ambulance Society.