Edward John Peake

Edward John Peake (1822 – 23 March 1876) was a winemaker, auctioneer, land agent, magistrate Member of Parliament and a prominent member of the Catholic Church in the early days of South Australia.[1] born in Gloucestershire.

He arrived in Australia around 1852 and spent several years touring the country before settling in Adelaide around 1855 and in 1858 purchased from John Morphett (acting for William Augustine Leigh (1802–1873),[2] of Little Aston Hall, Staffordshire)[3] a farm in Clarendon, which he developed as a vineyard and winery.[4] On his travels he made several sketches which survive. His knowledge of English Gothic Revival style of architecture influenced the design of St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Adelaide.[5]

He was granted an auctioneer's licence in 1855.[6] He was Chairman of Adelaide City Council in 1856[7]

He was appointed J.P. in 1857, elevated to Special Magistrate in 1860, based at Willunga[8] and Stipendiary Magistrate January to September 1868 when he was removed from the list.[9] but reinstated.

It was only a few years ago that the Government made Mr. Peake a Magistrate, and the other Magistrates objected so much to the appointment that they refused to sit with him; and yet now it was acknowledged that he was one of the best Magistrates in the colony, and that his decisions would bear the scrutiny of the Supreme Court and the Privy Council. ... William Townsend, MHA[10]

He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly seat of The Burra and Clare in March 1857 and resigned in October 1859[11] when he was appointed manager of the Traffic Branch of the South Australian Railways.[12]

He was a member of the Southern Rifle Association (part of South Australia's volunteer militia force) and in 1862 its President[13] He was also Chairman of the Duryea Mining Company.[14]

He left Clarendon in 1870[15] and served as Stipendiary Magistrate at Port Adelaide until late 1874, when he was forced by increasing ill health to resign.

Family

His mother Mary Peake (c. 1801 – 21 August 1867) died at Clarendon.

He married Elizabeth Newman ( – 18 April 1882) on 29 June 1867

Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of James Chambers, was the widow of John Holden Newman (ca.1835 – 11 November 1863). Her son John Holden Newman jnr. was born on 13 March 1864, married Beatrice Emma Tate (daughter of professor Ralph Tate) and died 29 August 1911 in England.

Legacy

His winery, built in 1858, was later developed as the Old Clarendon Inn, and refurbished in the late 20th century as a restaurant and accommodation,[16]

Peake Creek was named for him by John McDouall Stuart in June 1859 and hence Peake Station, or The Peake, acquired by Kidman Holdings in 1898. The Peake telegraph station was built in 1870.[17]

References
  1. "Religious Intelligence". The South Australian Advertiser. 18 November 1859. p. 4. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  2. Press, Margaret M. (2005). "Leigh, William Augustine (1802–1873)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. "Centenary of Clarendon". The Advertiser. 14 November 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  4. "Our Vineyards and Orchards". The South Australian Advertiser. 17 December 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 22 April 2015 – via Trove.
  5. "Edward John Peake :: Biography at :: At Design and Art Australia Online".
  6. "Bench of Magistrates". South Australian Register. 11 September 1855. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  7. "The Corporation By-Laws". South Australian Register. 21 October 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  8. "The Government Gazette". South Australian Register. 8 June 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  9. "The Stipendiary Magistracy". South Australian Register. 23 September 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  10. "House of Assembly". Adelaide Observer. 5 November 1870. p. 12. Retrieved 22 April 2015 – via Trove.
  11. "Edward John Peake". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  12. "The Advertiser". The South Australian Advertiser. 9 May 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  13. "Willunga". The South Australian Advertiser. 27 May 1862. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  14. "Duryea Mining Company". South Australian Register. 13 February 1862. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2012 – via Trove.
  15. "Complimentary Dinner to Mr. E. J. Peake, S.M., at Clarendon". Adelaide Observer. 12 February 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 22 April 2015 – via Trove.
  16. "Winery Info". Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  17. "SA Memory".
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