Robert Kyffin Thomas
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Kyffin Thomas (1851 - 13 June 1910) was a South Australia
n newspaper proprietor.
Sir Robert was born at Nailsworth, South Australia
, the son of William Kyffin Thomas, proprietor of The Register
His grandfather Robert Thomas
printed South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register in London in 1829, and The South Australian Register, the first South Australian newspaper, in 1839. He also printed the first Government Gazette, but lost that business when he ran foul of Governor Gawler
.
He was educated at Mr. J. L. Young's' Adelaide Educational Institution, a contemporary of the Right Hon. C. C. Kingston
. He took up journalism at the age of 18 and was soon chief reporter. He was admitted as a partner in the firm in 1877, and at the time of his death he was the senior proprietor of The Register.
He was a prominent member of the South Australian branch of the Royal Geographical Society, the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce and the Adelaide Glee Club and served a term as president of each. He was treasurer of the Old Colonists' Association, an active Freemason and a Justice of the Peace for 22 years.
While in Great Britain in 1902 he helped form the committee which commissioned Captain Adrian Jones
to create the South African War Memorial
, to be seen on the corner of King William Road
and North Terrace, Adelaide
, in front of Government House
. On the same trip he acquired a number of paintings for the National Gallery of South Australia
.
He was knighted in January 1909, one of the last to be conferred by King Edward VII.
In 1876 he married Amelia Bowen, daughter Robert George Bowen, of Adelaide. Their home for many years was "Ardington", Brougham Place, North Adelaide
.
He was survived by Lady Thomas and three sons (Reginald, Geoffrey, and Owen) and four daughters: Mrs D. D. Harbison, Mrs. Leonard Hack, and Misses (Millicent) Nora Kyffin Thomas (a noted violinist), and Kathleen Kyffin Thomas (Divisional Commandant of Red Cross). Sir Robert had one surviving brother, Evan Kyffin Thomas (died 27 July 1935), and six sisters: Mrs George Birks, Mrs. William Neill, Mrs Charles Birks, Mrs. J. Edwin Thomas, Mrs. G. B. Mallam and Miss Margaret Thomas.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n newspaper proprietor.
Sir Robert was born at Nailsworth, South Australia
Nailsworth, South Australia
Nailsworth is a suburb located four km north of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb borders Sefton Park, Prospect, Broadview, Medindie Gardens and Collinswood. The North Road Cemetery is located within the suburb and was founded by Bishop Augustus Short in 1853...
, the son of William Kyffin Thomas, proprietor of The Register
His grandfather Robert Thomas
Robert Thomas (newspaper proprietor)
Robert Thomas was a newspaper proprietor, printer and early settler of South Australia.In 1836, Thomas migrated to the new colony with his wife Mary and family on the Africaine, arriving at Holdfast Bay on 8 November...
printed South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register in London in 1829, and The South Australian Register, the first South Australian newspaper, in 1839. He also printed the first Government Gazette, but lost that business when he ran foul of Governor Gawler
George Gawler
-External links: – Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK...
.
He was educated at Mr. J. L. Young's' Adelaide Educational Institution, a contemporary of the Right Hon. C. C. Kingston
Charles Kingston
Charles Cameron Kingston, Australian politician, was an early liberal Premier of South Australia serving from 1893 to 1899 with the support of Labor led by John McPherson from 1893 and Lee Batchelor from 1897 in the House of Assembly, winning the 1893, 1896, and 1899 state elections against the...
. He took up journalism at the age of 18 and was soon chief reporter. He was admitted as a partner in the firm in 1877, and at the time of his death he was the senior proprietor of The Register.
He was a prominent member of the South Australian branch of the Royal Geographical Society, the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce and the Adelaide Glee Club and served a term as president of each. He was treasurer of the Old Colonists' Association, an active Freemason and a Justice of the Peace for 22 years.
While in Great Britain in 1902 he helped form the committee which commissioned Captain Adrian Jones
Adrian Jones
Adrian Jones was an English sculptor and painter who specialized in animals, particularly horses. He was born in Ludlow, Shropshire, attending the grammar school there, and initially studied at the Royal Veterinary College; he subsequently joined the army as a veterinary officer, attaining the...
to create the South African War Memorial
South African War Memorial (South Australia)
The South African War Memorial is an equestrian memorial dedicated to the South Australians who served in the Second Boer War of 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902...
, to be seen on the corner of King William Road
King William Street, Adelaide
King William Street is the part of a major arterial road that traverses the CBD and centre of Adelaide . It was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after King William IV, the then reigning monarch, who died within a month...
and North Terrace, Adelaide
North Terrace, Adelaide
North Terrace is one of the four terraces that bound the central business and residential district of the city of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It runs east-west, along the northern edge of the CBD.-North Side of North Terrace:...
, in front of Government House
Government House, Adelaide
Government House, located in Adelaide on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road, is the official residence of the Governor of South Australia.-History:The original 'Government Hut' was a thatched hut constructed by the seamen of the HMS Buffalo...
. On the same trip he acquired a number of paintings for the National Gallery of South Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia
The Art Gallery of South Australia , located on the cultural boulevard of North Terrace in Adelaide, is the premier visual arts museum in the Australian state of South Australia. It has a collection of over 35,000 works of art, making it, after the National Gallery of Victoria, the largest state...
.
He was knighted in January 1909, one of the last to be conferred by King Edward VII.
In 1876 he married Amelia Bowen, daughter Robert George Bowen, of Adelaide. Their home for many years was "Ardington", Brougham Place, North Adelaide
Brougham Place, North Adelaide
Brougham Place is a street lined with large mansions set in landscaped grounds in the Adelaide suburb of North Adelaide, South Australia. It surrounds Brougham Gardens, , that joins the three grids that comprise North Adelaide. It was named after Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux...
.
He was survived by Lady Thomas and three sons (Reginald, Geoffrey, and Owen) and four daughters: Mrs D. D. Harbison, Mrs. Leonard Hack, and Misses (Millicent) Nora Kyffin Thomas (a noted violinist), and Kathleen Kyffin Thomas (Divisional Commandant of Red Cross). Sir Robert had one surviving brother, Evan Kyffin Thomas (died 27 July 1935), and six sisters: Mrs George Birks, Mrs. William Neill, Mrs Charles Birks, Mrs. J. Edwin Thomas, Mrs. G. B. Mallam and Miss Margaret Thomas.