Gilbert William
Click here for photos of William Gilbert.
William Gilbert was born in Princes Risborough, England in 1829; son of James Gilbert, millwright and engineer, and Ann Hester, farmer’s daughter.[1][2] His mother passed away when he was just eleven years of age, leaving also a daughter Sarah Gilbert, who was just one.[1] In his autobiography William recalls that his mother “committed my sister to my care” and the pair were “brought up by our grandmother, who exercised a very beautiful influence on our lives.”[1] The siblings remained in contact throughout their lives and photos of them in their later years suggest a close bond (see album).
William migrated to Australia in 1869, and started a chaff milling business in North Adelaide two years later.[3] In 1887 he started W Gilbert & Co chaff milling business at Evanston.[3] His nephew William Gilbert Payne, eldest son of his sister Sarah (who had married Edwin Payne) was involved with the business, leasing it for five years from 1902 and purchasing it on 15th November 1907.[4]
He served as a Member of South Australian Parliament for over 25 years (1881-1906, representing the electorates of Yatala and Barossa) and undertook many philanthropic activities.[2]
William Gilbert died at Medindie in 1919, aged 89, having married twice but never having had any children.[2] He is buried in the North Road Cemetery.
For extensive details about William Gilbert see “William Gilbert (politician)” on Wikipedia.
Properties of William Gilbert
William owned an extensive list of metropolitan and rural properties during his time in Australia, including the land at Evanston upon which the Gilbert & Co Chaff Mill and original 'Mill Cottage' stood (part allotments 5, 6 & 7, Evanston - now known as 44 Barnet Road), and the paddocks across the road that were used for hay storage (part allotments 21 & 22, Evanston)(see map of property boundaries and locations of chaff mill and cottage).
Birth, Death & Marriage Information
GILBERT William
b.23 Feb 1829, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, England, brother of Sarah Gilbert (married name Sarah Payne)
m. 1852 STRATTON Jane, England (d. 1895)
Arrived 1869, Australia
m. 14 Apr 1904 SIMPSON Jane Mossman (nee DAVIE), Hyde Park, SA (Reg. Adelaide 219/1246)
d. 4 Feb 1919, Medindie, SA, aged 89 (Reg. Adelaide 425/267)
Buried North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, SA (South Path 6 West - Vault CA)
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 William Gilbert (1919) “Autobiography of William Gilbert, Esquire”, Unpublished (from the collection of Miriam Smith nee Cheek)(Gratitude from GHT for access to this resource & to the late William Gilbert for recording his recollections, aged 89).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 “William Gilbert (politician)” – Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia [Online accessed 24 Jan 2026] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gilbert_(politician)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 (Bunyip 25 Dec 1914) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97735334
- ↑ Certificate of Title 372/66
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