Downer family

John Downer
Alick Downer
Alexander Downer

The Downer family has played a significant role in the South Australian and Australian political and social sphere since the early days of European settlement. Their earliest ancestors were Mary Ann Downer (1792–1868) and her son Henry Downer, a tailor (1811–1870), who travelled from England to Australia in 1862, settling in Adelaide.[1]

Name Birth name Alive Occupation Office Parents Spouse Notes
Henry Downer Henry Downer 1811–1870 Tailor Jane Field Arrived from England aboard the Eden on 24 February 1838[1][2]
George Downer Alexander George Downer 1839–1916 Barrister, journalist, businessman Henry Downer and Jane Downer (née Field) unmarried
John Downer John William Downer 1843–1915 Partner in the legal firm G & J Downer Premier of South Australia

1885 – 1887, 1892 – 1893

Henry Downer and Jane Downer (née Field) Elizabeth Henderson

Una Stella Haslingden Russell
Una Russell remarried in 1919, to D’Arcy Wentworth Addison.[3]
Henry Edward Downer 1836–1905 lawyer, businessman, politician Henry Downer and Jane Downer (née Field) Maria Martin Haggar
Alick Downer Alexander Russell Downer 1910–1981 Minister for Immigration, Australian

1958 – 1963

High Commissioner in London
1964 – 1972

John William Downer and Una Stella Haslingden Downer (née Russell) Mary Isobel Gosse
Mary Downer Mary Isobel Gosse 1924–2014 James Hay Gosse and Joanna Lang Gosse (née Barr Smith) Alick Downer
Alexander Downer 1951 – Minister for Foreign Affairs

1996 – 2007
Opposition Leader (Liberal Party)
1994 – 1995

Alick Downer and Mary Downer (née Gosse) Nicola Robinson
Georgina Downer Georgina Mary Beatrice Downer 1979– Lawyer, diplomat, political adviser Alexander Downer and Nicola Rosemary "Nicky" Downer (née Robinson) Will Heath Contested the 2018 Mayo by-election and the 2019 Australian federal election[4] as the endorsed Liberal candidate, in both cases unsuccessfully.

References

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  1. ^ a b Downer, Alick (2012). The Downers of South Australia (PDF). Wakefield Press. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. ^ Naval Tailor Fathers a Political Dynasty: Henry DOWNER (1811‐1870) & Jane FIELD (1806‐1861), The Pioneers Association of South Australia Inc. Archived 29 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13 March 2016
  3. ^ "Interesting Weddings". Sunday Times. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 2 March 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Georgina Downer secures Liberal preselection for Mayo six weeks after by-election defeat". ABC News. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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