Carolyn Spooner in her capacity as Engagement Librarian at the State Library of South Australia is giving a free slideshow and talk about Sir Josiah Symon on 21 March from 11.00am to 12.00 at the State Library which members might like to book into. Her research into his life via State Library collections and Trove has put some flesh on his bones to reveal his social, sporting and theatrical life, his interesting residences and workplaces and the generous benefacting that lives on after him.
Sir Josiah arrived in South Australia in 1866 as a 19 year old and lived to the grand age of 88. He was the foremost barrister of the day, handling the Schippan murder trial and other high profile cases. He was instrumental in drafting the Australian Constitution, and was a senator in the first Australian parliament. More interestingly he owned historic Auldana winery at Magill and owned a yacht which he would sail to Kangaroo Island. But his passion was bibliophilia which saw him amassing a large ‘gentleman’s library’ which he bequeathed to the State Library.
After the talk you might like to check out the exhibition on Australian political cartoons.