Walter Padbury
Encyclopedia
Walter Padbury was an Australia
n pioneer
and philanthropist.
Padbury was born at Stonesfield
, near Woodstock
, in the English
county of Oxfordshire
. He arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia
in the Protector with his father on 25 February 1830, but in the following July his father died. The lad was left in the care of a married couple who stole the money his father had left and absconded. Padbury then had to fend for himself. He followed various occupations and when 16 was shepherding near York
for £10 a year. Later he saved enough to send for his mother and the rest of his family, took up land, was one of the first settlers to open up the north-west
of Australia, and in 1863 was sending stock by sailing ships to Carnarvon
.
He retained his interest in the north-west all his life, but he also established a general store business in Perth
and other centres. Late in life he founded a successful flour-mill at Guildford
. He was much interested in the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia
and was president in 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1885.
For many years he was a member of the Perth city council
, for some time was chairman of the Guildford council (now the Swan), and for five years was an elected member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
. He travelled in Europe and the United States of America, and at one time thought of settling in England again, but found the climate did not suit him. He died at Perth on 18 April 1907. His wife, Charlotte, had died in February 1895.
Padbury was a good example of the kind of man who, having no advantages and no one to help him, rises to a leading place in his community. Having got into a good financial position he not only helped his own family, he held out a helping hand to many other men less fortunate than himself. He was a generous contributor to charitable institutions and was particularly interested in orphan children. A sincerely religious man he gave largely to his church, and it was principally due to his munificence that it was found possible to establish the Anglican Diocese of Bunbury
. By his will large sums of money were left to various Western Australian charitable institutions.
Walter Padbury was well known for his charitable works. He sponsored an eye operation for a sandalwood
farmer named Edmund Keen Byrne (1833-1904) of Bindoon
. Edmund had originally arrived in Perth on the ship Orient in 1848 as a Parkhurst Lad
. Walter not only paid for his trip to London in 1878 on his ship the Charlotte Padbury, but also paid for the operation (necessary because of 'Sandy Blight') and accommodation etc whilst in London, a period of nearly six months.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pioneer
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
and philanthropist.
Padbury was born at Stonesfield
Stonesfield
Stonesfield is a village and civil parish about north of Witney in Oxfordshire.The village is on the crest of an escarpment. The parish extends mostly north and north-east of the village, in which directions the land rises gently and then descends to the Glyme at Glympton and Wootton about to the...
, near Woodstock
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
, in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. He arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
in the Protector with his father on 25 February 1830, but in the following July his father died. The lad was left in the care of a married couple who stole the money his father had left and absconded. Padbury then had to fend for himself. He followed various occupations and when 16 was shepherding near York
York, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
for £10 a year. Later he saved enough to send for his mother and the rest of his family, took up land, was one of the first settlers to open up the north-west
North West Australia
The terms North West Australia, The North West and North Western Australia have been used as a regular label for the region of the North of Western Australia and the West of the Northern Territory.- Early 20th century gold rush:...
of Australia, and in 1863 was sending stock by sailing ships to Carnarvon
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef lies to the north...
.
He retained his interest in the north-west all his life, but he also established a general store business in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and other centres. Late in life he founded a successful flour-mill at Guildford
Guildford, Western Australia
Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 13 km northeast of the city. Its Local Government Area is the City of Swan.-History:Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply...
. He was much interested in the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia
Perth Royal Show
The Perth Royal Show is an annual show held in Perth, Western Australia at the Claremont Showgrounds. It features informational exhibits, agricultural competitions and display animals, a fairground and rides, and showbags. It has been held for over 100 years and is organised by the Royal...
and was president in 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1885.
For many years he was a member of the Perth city council
City of Perth
The City of Perth is a local government area and body, within the Perth Metropolitan Area, which is the capital of Western Australia. The local government body is commonly known as Perth City Council. The city covers the Perth central business district and surrounding suburbs...
, for some time was chairman of the Guildford council (now the Swan), and for five years was an elected member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
. He travelled in Europe and the United States of America, and at one time thought of settling in England again, but found the climate did not suit him. He died at Perth on 18 April 1907. His wife, Charlotte, had died in February 1895.
Padbury was a good example of the kind of man who, having no advantages and no one to help him, rises to a leading place in his community. Having got into a good financial position he not only helped his own family, he held out a helping hand to many other men less fortunate than himself. He was a generous contributor to charitable institutions and was particularly interested in orphan children. A sincerely religious man he gave largely to his church, and it was principally due to his munificence that it was found possible to establish the Anglican Diocese of Bunbury
Anglican Diocese of Bunbury
The Anglican Diocese of Bunbury is located in the south of Western Australia. The Bishop is the Right Reverend Allan Ewing, who was installed as bishop in July 2010.- External links :* *...
. By his will large sums of money were left to various Western Australian charitable institutions.
Walter Padbury was well known for his charitable works. He sponsored an eye operation for a sandalwood
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
farmer named Edmund Keen Byrne (1833-1904) of Bindoon
Bindoon, Western Australia
Bindoon is a town located from Perth city on the Great Northern Highway within the Shire of Chittering.Bindoon is where the majority of training and selection takes place for the Australian Special Air Service Regiment...
. Edmund had originally arrived in Perth on the ship Orient in 1848 as a Parkhurst Lad
Parkhurst apprentices
The Parkhurst apprentices were juvenile prisoners from Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight, sentenced to "transportation beyond the seas" and transported to Australia and New Zealand between 1842 and 1852...
. Walter not only paid for his trip to London in 1878 on his ship the Charlotte Padbury, but also paid for the operation (necessary because of 'Sandy Blight') and accommodation etc whilst in London, a period of nearly six months.
See also
- Forrest PlaceForrest PlaceForrest Place is a pedestrianised square located within the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was created in 1923, and has a history of being a focal point for significant political meetings and demonstrations.-History:...
- for mention of Padbury Buildings in Perth. - Thornlie, Western AustraliaThornlie, Western AustraliaThornlie is a large outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 18 kilometres south-east of Perth's central business district. It is part of the City of Gosnells local government area. The Canning River runs through the northern side of the suburb...
- Original Thornlie Farm financed by Padbury.