Mitchell (Mayor) John

**Fast Facts**
Type of person	Individual
Date of birth	1832
Place of birth	Perth, Scotland
Date of arrival	1858
Principal occupation	Accountant
Date of death	1884
Place of decease	Gawler

John Mitchell was elected as Gawler Councillor for South Ward in 1865 and then Mayor 1865 and 1866.

Born in Perth, Scotland on June 17, 1832 to Andrew Mitchell and Isabella (nee Corbet), John Mitchell was raised in Glasgow before arriving in Melbourne in 1852 on the Abrota. He then moved to Adelaide the following year, and settled in Gawler in 1858, where he started employment under Walter Duffield, eventually becoming a partner.

John Mitchell then started another business, as a wheatbuyer, in the firm Mitchell, Fox and Co. A skilled accountant, he was noted for his business integrity. As was all of Gawler’s early Mayors, Mr. Mitchell was actively involved with the Gawler Institute, firstly as Honorary Secretary and then as President in 1861 and 1865. A councillor, he became town Mayor in 1866.

The biggest news from Mr. Mitchell’s term as Mayor was in late August, 1866 when the Council ordered all roads in Gawler East with impediments to be opened. Two weeks later, the Council Inspector was severely censured for not carrying out the order! He also laid the foundation stone of the Gawler Post Office in August, 1866, which was followed by a luncheon in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Mr. Mitchell was a P.G. of the Oddfellows.

In George E. Loyau’s Gawler Handbook in 1880, the company John Mitchell & Co., Gawler Importers and grain merchants was listed, as agents for the South Australian Insurance Company, Limited, and the Australian Widows’ Fund, as well as dealing in…“malt, hops, isinglass, and all Brewers’ requisites always on hand. Whisky, Rum, and Claret in bond or duty paid”.

George E. Loyau "The Gawler Handbook" [G.E.L.] pp166 and 167 "After McKinlay's death it was universally felt that something should be done to perpetuate his memory, and accordingly, meetings were held in Gawler and a Committee was formed to carry out the wish of the people - vis., that a suitable monument should be erected "to commemorate his personal worth and the services rendered by him to the colonies as an explorer." The site selected was at the terminal point of Murray-street, at its junction with Cowan-street, and adjacent to the old burial ground. The Committee chosen to carry out the matter, and who brought it to a successful issue, were as follows:- Chairman, W.F. Wincey, Esq., J.P., Mayor of Gawler; Treasurers, J. Thornley, Esq., J.P., Manager Bank of South Australia, Gawler, Richard Holland, Esq., J.P., Turretfield, near Gawler; Hon. Secretary, John Rudall, Esq., Gawler; Committee, A.H.F. Bartels, Esq., Mayor of Adelaide, E.M. Bagot, Esq., J.P., Charles Bonney, Esq., J.P., E.S. Burkett, Esq., J.P., W.R. Cave, Esq., John Chambers, Esq. ,J.P., Rev. Canon Coombs, Hon. J. Crozier, M.L.C., Walter Duffield, Esq., J.P., James Dawson, Esq., Samuel Davenport, Esq., J.P., James Fergusson, Esq., Robert Fotheringham, Esq., Thomas Fotheringham, Esq., Rev. James Gordon, Joseph Gilbert, Esq., J.P., F.A.Grant, Esq., J.P., E.L. Grundy, Esq., John Hope, Esq., Thomas Hogarth, Esq., J.P., G.W. Hawkes, Esq., S.M., J.H.Howe, Esq., Joseph Keynes, Esq., J.P., Hon. A.B. Murray, M.L.C., Rev. J.C. McMchael, James Martin, Esq., J.P., John Mitchell, Esq., J.P., H.T. Morris, Esq., J.P., W.F.H. Popham, Esq., M.D., Ross T. Reid, Esq., Henry Scott, Esq., J.P., Dr. Schomburgk, H.C. Swan, Esq., S.M., R.J. Turner, Esq., S.M., and George Warren, Esq., J.P.

A member of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Mitchell married Elizabeth Morrison in 1848 before coming to Australia, and had three children. Although hot tempered, John also was so thoughtful of heart and purpose, he kept a large circle of friends. His health failed over the last few years of his life; despite taking some sea voyages he grew worse and passed away on June 18, 1884 at his residence, Gowan Brae, Gawler.

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