Guide to the Papers of John Benjamin Graham (as filmed by the AJCP), 1841-1926

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Summary

Collection number:

M373-M376

Creator:

Graham, John Benjamin

Extent:

30 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers of J.B. Graham filmed by The Australian Joint Copying Project include: a photograph of J.B. Graham; diaries covering his travels, time and business in South Australia, and life during the years1841-1858; correspondence with Henry Ayres, and Henry and Frank Rymil; Reports and accounts of the property Canowie, accounts of the Graham family and other miscellaneous papers.

Biographical / Historical:

John Benjamin Graham (1813-1876) grew up in Sheffield and moved to London in 1832, where he was apprenticed to an upholsterer. In 1839 he emigrated to Adelaide, with £40 of his own savings and £250 worth of goods to sell for his employer. He worked as a publican and then became a shopkeeper and ironmonger in Hindley Street. When rich copper ore was discovered in 1845 at Burra, in the mid-north of South Australia, Graham mortgaged his business and invested heavily in the South Australian Mining Association. The Association purchased the northern half of the Burra Creek Special Survey and for the next fifteen years its Burra Burra Mine was to be the richest minerals mine in Australia. As the largest shareholder in the company, Graham quickly became wealthy, his dividends totalling as much as £16,000 per annum. He built a large house north of Adelaide which he named Prospect House ('Graham's Castle').

In 1848 Graham sailed to England on what was intended to be a short business trip. In the following year, however, he married Louisa Rymill, on condition that they lived in England. Graham remained a director of the South Australian Mining Association and he invested in other South Australian companies, such as the Adelaide Land and Gold Company. He made a short visit to South Australia in 1858. In general, however, he led the life of a gentleman of leisure. He and Louisa often travelled in Europe and in 1858 they moved to a mansion on the River Necker in Germany. Louisa died in 1870 and Graham spent his last years at St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex.

Henry (Harry) Robert Graham (1850-1933) was the eldest son of John Graham and inherited his business and property interests in Australia. He made occasional visits to South Australia but in general his interests were managed by his uncles, Henry and Frank Rymill. A supporter of the Conservative Party, he represented St Pancras West in the House of Commons from 1892 to 1906. His brother (Frederick) Malcolm Graham (1856-1911) emigrated to South Australia in 1878 and worked on sheep stations.

Sir Henry Ayers (1821-1897) emigrated to Adelaide in 1840 and worked as a law clerk. In 1845 he became the secretary of the South Australian Mining Association and from 1850 onwards was the managing director of the Association. He was the agent of John Graham and other absentee shareholders in the company. He had many other business interests, especially in banking, and became an extremely wealthy man. Ayers entered the Legislative Council in 1857 and between 1863 and 1873 he was seven times Premier of South Australia. He was president of the Legislative Council from 1881 to 1893. He was knighted in 1873.

Henry Rymill (1836-1927) and Frank Rymill (1837-1915) were the brothers of Louisa Graham. In 1855 they were persuaded by John Graham to emigrate to Adelaide. Henry had difficulty finding employment and for a time worked as a gardener. In 1856 he was engaged by Henry Ayers as a bookkeeper in the South Australian Mining Agency. In 1862 he formed his own land and finance company and in 1865 went into partnership with Frank Rymill, who had been a clerk in the Police Court and secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. They took over John Graham's agency in 1867. The brothers were managers and part-owners of the Canowie Pastoral Company and were directors of various companies. Henry's son Arthur Graham Rymill (1868-1934) was the principal of H. F. Rymill and managing director of the Canowie Pastoral Company.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.