Henry Ayers
Sir
Henry Ayers (
1 May 1821 –
11 June 1897) was a
Premier of South Australia who is best remembered for having
Ayers Rock (now
Uluru) named for him.
Henry Ayers was born at
Portsea,
England, on
1 May 1821. On leaving school he entered a law office, but emigrated to
South Australia in
1840with his wife, Elizabeth, and for some time worked as a law clerk. In
1845 he was appointed secretary of the
Burra Burra mines, and within a year had command of over 1000 men. For nearly 50 years he was in control of this mine, first as secretary and afterwards as managing director. He made his wealth from the
Burra Burra Copper Mines, which was known as the "Monster Mine" that secured the wealth of the colony of
South Australia.
On
25 March 1857 he was elected to the first
legislative council under responsible government, and was continuously a member for over 36 years. For many years the whole colony formed one electorate for the council, and on two occasions, in
1865 and
1873, Ayers headed the poll.
In March
1863 he was selected as one of the three South Australian representatives at the inter-colonial conference, and on
4 July 1863 he became minister without portfolio in the first
Dutton cabinet. This ministry resigned 11 days later, and Ayers formed his first ministry as premier and chief secretary on
15 July 1863. The house was much divided and it was almost impossible to get business done. Ayers reconstructed his ministry on
22 July 1864 but was defeated, and resigned on
4 August. The
Blyth ministry which was then formed included Ayers as chief secretary, but did not survive a general election and resigned on
22 March 1865. When Dutton formed his second ministry Ayers had his old position as chief secretary, and still retaining that office, formed his third administration on
20 September 1865 which lasted little more than a month. In spite of dissolutions it was found very difficult to get a workable house. There were 18 ministries between July 1863 and July 1873. Ayers became premier again from May
1867 to September
1868, October to November 1868, January to March
1872, and with an entirely new team of ministers, from March 1872 to July
1873. He was chief secretary in the
Colton ministry from June
1876 to October
1877, his last term of office.
In
1881 he was elected president of the legislative council, and until December
1893 carried out his duties with ability, impartiality and courtesy. He died at Adelaide on
11 June 1897. His wife died in
1881 and he was survived by three sons and a daughter. He was created
K.C.M.G. in 1872, and G.C.M.G. in
1894.
Ayers established a great position as a trusted man of business. Apart from his mining interests he held important directorates, and was for many years a member and chairman of the board of trustees of the
Savings Bank of South Australia; he was re-appointed chairman only a few days before his death. He was the first Chairman of the South Australian Gas Company, was a governor of the
Adelaide Botanic Gardens from
1862, president of the
South Australian Old Colonists' Association, and was for many years on the council of the
University of Adelaide. His political career was unique. He was in parliament for an unbroken term of 37 years and in no other Australian colony or state has a politician exercised so much influence or been in so many ministries while a member of the upper house. It is probable, however, that if Ayers had been in the House of Assembly he would have had more control of business, and his seven premierships would have been longer in duration and more fruitful in results. He was a good speaker and an excellent administrator. An address he gave on Pioneer Difficulties on Founding South Australia was published as a pamphlet in
1891.
Sir Ayers resided in
Ayers House from
1855 until
1897 and built it from a 9-room house into a grand mansion in the
1860s. The youngest child, Lucy, was born at
Ayers House. During Sir Ayer's parliametary service, Ayers House was used for Cabinet meetings, parliamentary dinners and grand balls.
*The South Australian Register, 12 June 1897;
*The Advertiser, Adelaide, 12 June 1897;
*E. Hodder, The History of South Australia.
*
SA Parliament - Ayers*
Draguerrotype of Sir Henry Ayers
