Edward Spicer

Edward Spicer

Edward Spicer was best known as a merchant prince, but he had undoubted claims to be regarded as a pastoral pioneer. He was born in London on New Year’s Day, 1817, and had chosen no settled career for himself before he came out to South Australia at the age of 21 years, with the express object of following pastoral pursuits. Early graziers of New South Wales had been the means of focussing some attention upon Australia in the Old Country from the point of view of stock-raising. It was a glowing article in “The Times” that especially attracted Mr. Spicer’s notice, an article that described what an energetic man could accomplish with 1,000 ewes in a single decade in New South Wales. However, he decided upon Adelaide for his destination, and shortly before leaving London entered into an agreement with the South Australian Company to take up a section of land in the new province.

1838. It was the end of September when the vessel by which Mr. Spicer voyaged was guided into a small cutting in the bank of what was afterwards known as the Old Port. Henry Waterhouse and his brother were fellow passengers. The three young immigrants walked to Adelaide, and experienced a sharp disappointment at finding the River Torrens was only a trickle of a stream, and not the fine river they had been led to believe it was. At the time the business centre of Adelaide was at the intersection of Hindley and Morphett Streets. There were not more than a dozen shops, and all were of primitive construction, built mostly of broad palings and pise walls. Dr. C. G. Everard had a cottage at the corner of Hindley and Morphett Streets, but most of the settlers were accommodated on the parklands in reed huts or tents. Rundle Street was then being cleared of timber. Meat was selling at 9d. to 1/ a pound, in which respect the pioneers were no worse off than the consumer to-day, but 5/ for a four lb. loaf of bread sounds like an echo of the bad old days.

Mr. Spicer settled at the west end of where Currie Street now is, paying £20 for a piece of land on which he personally erected at the cost of another £20, a one-room tenement. Water was drawn from the River Torrens in a barrel. This little dwelling was used only as “headquarters.” Mr. Spicer was firm in his determination to become a squatter, and immediately began to spy out the land. He inspected the country along the Rivers Torrens and Sturt, examined the Mt. Barker district, and eventually selected a good lump of land about four miles from Adelaide, in what was then known as the Black Forest. The exact locality of his holding is now called Edwardstown, and Edward Spicer’s pastoral occupation has often been referred to as the derivation of this place name, which, however, is due to the fact that William Edwards, owner of section 51, laid out a village there. Mr. Spicer set to work to improve his block by the erection of stockyards, a one-room “villa” and other conveniences, and at the end of a few months considered himself ready for the pastoral fray. The whole of the country from the West Terrace Cemetery to the Sturt was then available as a sheep walk. The stocking of it, however, was no light undertaking. Mr. Spicer found that it would cost him £2 to £3 a head to land sheep at Holdfast Bay from Tasmania, and his funds would not stand up to those rates. He therefore decided to exploit the Sydney stock market, and for that purpose entered into a temporary partnership with four or five other colonists. These included Messrs. Alexander Buchanan, first manager of the Anlaby estate, and Ewen Cameron. The party proceeded to Sydney by water, the voyage occupying 14 days, and they purchased 3,000 sheep at £1 a head. It was difficult enough to get to Sydney in those days unencumbered with stock, and it required exceptional courage and determination to strike across Australia, through practically unknown country, with a large flock of sheep. However, this little band of hardy pioneers faced the task, and their journey stands as somewhat of an epic in pastoral annals.

The track chosen was by way of the Murrumbidgee and the Murray, and along the banks of those streams, they battled with their stock for five months, and reached the North West Bend in January 1840. Throughout the journey they had to be on the strict guard against molestation at the hands of the natives. The worst trials occurred after leaving the Murray at North West Bend. A fierce heat wave was encountered for three days, and rendered it almost impossible to travel sheep in full wool. There was no known water between the Murray and the ranges, a distance of 30 miles, and the party soon found themselves in a position of great peril. It was promptly decided to send the drays that carried the provisions on ahead in the hope of discovering a supply of water. Those left behind, including Mr. Spicer, suffered acutely, and their thirst became so intense that they had to kill some of the sheep for their blood. All the dogs perished. The drays did not return so soon as was expected, and as the party had been without water for two days, it was reluctantly resolved to abandon the flock and to push ahead. They trailed the track of the drays, and walked until overcome by exhaustion, although the comparative coolness of the night gave some relief. Next morning the men set out afresh, and so severe had Mr. Spicer’s sufferings become that his vision was affected. He got away from the others and then lost his bearings. He plodded on and suddenly came upon two of his own men, who told him that he was simply walking back. Kneeling down he examined the bullock tracks, and finding that the men were right, he turned around. After another hour of agony, the drays appeared in sight, and to the delight of all hands, it was learned that they carried a good supply of water. The reaction was so severe that Mr. Spicer collapsed and fell, but water soon restored him. Even now it looked like a complete debacle so far as the stock was concerned, but a merciful deliverance came in the form of a violent thunderstorm, accompanied by torrential rain. The party then went in search of the sheep and discovered that true to instinct they had made straight back to the North West Bend on the Murray. Upon being mustered it was found that the flock was about 600 short. Many had been killed by the blacks and their carcases were seen lying on the trunks of trees ready to be eaten. After further adventures the heroic “overlanders” reached the River Light, where they soon sold 1,000 ewes at £2 a head. The partners divided the remainder of the flock, some of which formed the original stocking of Anlaby estate.

Mr. Spicer travelled his portion to his run at Edwardstown, but he was not permitted to remain in occupation long. The inevitable demands of increasing population caused the Governor to resume his run for agricultural purposes about 12 months later, although Mr. Spicer retained to the end 70 acres of his original holding. Mr. Spicer afterwards selected fresh country in the Willunga Ranges, but six months later saw him settled at Middleton, situated between Port Elliot and Goolwa. He remained there for three years, and his stock having greatly multiplied, he decided upon more elbow room, and drove his flocks all the way to the north side of Maria Creek, where Kingston is now situated, and had Edward Stirling as a neighbor. It was not altogether a wise choice of locality. His country was “coasty” and included some poisonous herbage, with the result that in less than 12 months Mr. Spicer was on the move again. Fresh fields and pastures new were found on the south bank of the Murray, above Wellington and at the back of the Bremer Ranges. While out in the bush one day, Mr. Spicer unexpectedly came upon a mob of about 200 blacks surrounding a stage about 6 feet high erected on four posts, on which was the dead body of a lubra being roasted in a sitting posture over a fire. The natives indicated their displeasure at the presence of the white stranger, who speedily decamped. Mr. Spicer further extended his operations by purchasing the Poonindie run on Eyre Peninsula, which he afterwards sold to Archdeacon Hale, as a mission station for the blacks. He once held 150 square miles of country on Eyre Peninsula, and stocked it with sheep. Mr. Spicer retired from the pastoral business in 1851 after having played the genuine part of a pathfinder.

He went to England to see his parents, and having combated a severe and prolonged illness, returned to South Australia soon after the first excitement caused by the discovery of the Victorian gold diggings. The rest of his business life was spent as a general merchant, in which capacity he was joined successively by his two brothers, Henry and George Spicer. The operations of the firm were extensive and prosperous, and kept pace with the expansion of the colony. Edward Spicer finally retired from active business in 1893, but lived until his 90th year. He died at Rose Park on May 7, 1906. South Australia has known few more liberal Wesleyan Methodists, and the Spicer Memorial Church in Fourth Avenue, St. Peters, helps to keep green his cherished memory. He was a member of the managing committee of Prince Alfred College, and in 1893 gave £ 1,000 to provide a scholarship at the Adelaide University for “the reds.” He founded three homes in East Adelaide for Methodist clergymen’s widows and supernumerary ministers, and his charitable habits found scope in many other directions. The late Lady Smith, second wife of the late Sir Edwin Smith, was a daughter. At one time in his career, Mr. Spicer had some interests on Yorke Peninsula, where there is a well which still bears his name. Unlike his illustrious son-in-law (Sir Edwin Smith), Mr. Spicer was never attracted by public life, but he took a keen and practical interest in the Adelaide Jubilee Exhibition, of which he was one of the promoters and a guarantor to the amount of £500. He also served on the Jurors and Awards Sectional Committee in connection with that great exposition, which did so much to tide South Australia over a difficult period in its history.

Shortly before his death, a biographer wrote:— “Mr. Spicer survives to witness the present expanding proportions of a city which he knew as a group of rude huts. A host of memories must arise as he drives through the well kept streets lined with large buildings, and not the least pleasing must be the reflection that he contributed to its uprising. Whether as a wanderer in the untrodden back country or as a city merchant, he has been as a father to South Australia, and no one in the province is more respected and esteemed." We are indebted to his daughter, Mrs. H. D. Cook, of Rose Park, for the portrait reproduced on the opposite page.

Excerpt from Pastoral Pioneers of South Australia - Volume 1 Reprinted from “ The Adelaide Stock and Station Journal” Adelaide : PUBLISHERS LIMITED, PRINTERS, 110 Franklin Street. 1927.

Tale of Edward Spicer, 'Prince of Merchants' an Adelaide Icon

This fascinating talk on Edward Spicer, a mover and shaker in Adelaide’s colonial life, he amassed great wealth and influence through various business and pastoral ventures and was also a philanthropist donating to many charitable causes. Not one to seek recognition Spicer Church is testimony to his social conscience.

DEATH OF MR. EDWARD SPICER.

A SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PIONEER.

Mr. Edward Spicer died at His residence, Rose Park, on Monday morning, at the advanced age of 89 years. Born in London in 1817. Mr. Spicer arrived in South Australia in 1838, being attracted hither by a glowing article in The London Times, which dealt with sheep- farming in New South Wales, and which represented in roseate colours what might be accomplished by an energetic individual with 1,000 ewes in a single decade. Shortly before sailing from England Mr. Spicer entered into an arrangement with the South Australian Company to take up a section of land in the colony. Very fair weather was experienced on the voyage out, and at the end of September, 1838, the vessel was guided into a small cutting in the bank of what was known as the Old Port. Among his fellow-passengers were the late Mr. Henry Waterhouse and his brother. They walked to Adelaide, and received their first disappointment in finding the Torrens but a small stream instead of a fine river. At that time the business part of the capital was at the junction of Morphett and Hindley streets, though the shops in the latter thoroughfare did not exceed a dozen, and were of the most primitive construction, being chiefly built of broad palings and pise walls.' The settlers were located on the park lands, where they lived either in reed huts or tents. Dr. Everard had a cottage built at the intersection of Morphett and Hindley streets, but at the period referred to, Rundle street was being cleared of timber. Meat was then from 9d. to 1/ per lb., whilst a 4-lb. loaf cost 5/.

After having inspected land at the Sturt along the Torrens and in the Mount Barker district, Mr. Spicer decided to settle at the Black Forest, where he had the advantages of the sea on one side, the hills on the other, and the Sturt River hard by for watering puroses. The first year was spent in improving the land by the erection of stockyards and a "villa" of one room, and this having been done, he, with four others, proceeded to Sydney for the purpose of purchasing the necessary sheep to stock the place. The beautiful harbour of Port Jackson was reached 14 days after sailing from Adelaide, and despite innumerable and almost insuperable difficulties. Mr. Spicer and his companions successfully brought overland to South Australia the first flock of sheep by way of the North-West Bend. The sufferings encountered during this hazardous journey may well be imagined when it is stated that at one stage, so keen were the pangs of thirst, several of the sheep had to be killed for their blood. All the dogs died, and, as the party had been without water for two days, they reluctantly decided to abandon the flock and follow the tracks of the drays, which had been sent forward in search of water. Mr. Spicer was the first to come upon them, and returning, he picked up the remainder of the party. Half an hour later a terrific thunderstorm occurred, which flooded the country. The sheep made for the Murray, and several hundreds were lost. In cooler weather the party reached the River Light with the remainder of the flock, part of which formed the original stock of the Anlaby Estate. Before dividing their sheep, the membersof this brief partnership sold 1,000 ewes at £2 per head. Mr. Spicer took his stock to the Black Forest, where he resided for another year, at the end of which time he married and removed to the neighbourhood of Maria Creek, now known as Kingston. Here his stay was short, as the country contained poisonous herbage, which soon materially diminished his stock. Thereupon he removed about 20 miles along the banks of the Murray, above Wellington. At this time Mr. Spicer also owned another pastoral run at the back of the Bremer Ranges, and others in the vicinity of Port Lincoln, including the Poonindie Run, which he sold to Archdeacon Hale as a mission station for the blacks.

In 1851 he sold his sheep, and returned to England, in order to see his parents. Whilst in the old country he was attacked with illness, and accordingly returned to South Australia, accompanied by his brother (Dr. Spicer). For a whole year following he was incapacitated from labour of any kind. He speculated in agricultural lands, and conjointly with another brother in England, who purchased the goods, he commenced importing on a large scale, always exercising the utmost care not to work upon artificial capital. After 14 years his brother retired, and his place in the partnership was filled by another brother, Dr. George Spicer, who had been practising in India. Mr. Edward Spicer retired from the business some years ago in favour of his son.

For many years Mr. Spicer was a member of the Kent Town Wesleyan Church, and was one of the most liberal Methodists in the colony. He was a member of the managing committee of Prince Alfred College, and in 1893 he gave £1.000 to found a scholarship for a Prince Alfred boy at the Adelaide University, its value being £50 for three years. He founded three homes in East Adelaide for Methodist widows and supernumerary ministers, and was a liberal supporter of the Wesleyan Home Mission Fund; while his philanthropy found scope in many other directions. Mr. Spicer's family was of seven -five daughters and two sons. His daughters are— Lady Smith. Mrs. H. D. Cook. Mrs. E. Peterswald. Mrs. Symons, and Mrs. W. Haigh. His son. Mr. E. H. Spicer, resides in North Adelaide; while Mr. Fred Spicer, the other son, died some years ago.

DEATH OF MR. EDWARD SPICER. (1906, May 8). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 5. Retrieved October 13, 2016

• SPICER Edward arrived in SA 1838-09-23 aboard Winchester from London 38-06-12 (arrival)
• SPICER Edward arrived in SA 1847-07-28 aboard John Bartlett from London 47-04-16 (returning from visit with parents, but ill)
• SPICER George arrived in SA 1847-07-28 aboard John Bartlett from London 47-04-16 (Brother Dr. George Spicer)

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