Thomas Gilbert (pioneer)

Thomas Gilbert (b. 1789, d. 1873) was a pioneer of Adelaide, South Australia, having arrived with the first settlers in order to operate the first Colonial Storehouse.

Prior to coming to Australia, Thomas Gilbert was an optician who worked in London. Many early South Australian settlers were those who had relinquished good positions in Britain to help establish "a model state which would not reproduce the inequalities of older countries" [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/e480.htm Article about Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton] , sources: G. W. E. Russell, Lady Victoria Buxton: a Memoir, with some account of her Husband, 1919. Contributor: F. F. [Frank Fox] Published: 1927. Accessed 6 July 2008.] .

He arrived at Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia on 11 September 1836 with other first settlers and surveyors on the "Cygnet" before travelling on to the mainland to establish the Colonial Storehouse. Gilbert had been appointed the task of operating the Colonial Storehouse by the South Australian Association formed by Robert Gouger.

In 1837, shortly after the Proclamation of South Australia, Thomas Gilbert was appointed by Governor Hindmarsh as first Postmaster General in Adelaide, with the first post office originally being operated from his private residence. Thomas Gilbert managed the post office until the workload grew to the point that he was unable to manage both the General Store and be Postmaster General. He resigned as Postmaster General in 1838 after 18 months in the role.

Thomas Gilbert's storehouse, post office and residence was the first European structure built on the Adelaide plains. It was a temporary hut built on the banks of the River Torrens.

He was a member of the Street Naming Committee and a founding member of the South Australian Literary and Scientific Association, which was first established in London in 1834. Gilbert was also a founding member of the South Australian Lodge of Friendship No. 613. He was elected and initiated into Freemasonry the first meeting of the Lodge which was held in 1834 at the South Australian Association in London.

Gilbert attended the Proclamation of South Australia at Glenelg on 28 December 1836. He is said to have proclaimed the toast: "Mrs Hindmarsh and the Ladies" at the event [ [http://users.chariot.net.au/~neverome/index_hamley_bridge.htm The history of Hamley Bridge] , accessed 5 July 2008.] .

Thomas Gilbert retired in 1854. He died on 20 May 1873 aged 84 years of age and is buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

On his gravestone is written "Erected by a few colonialists in token of their sincere admiration of his honorable and generous qualities as a public officer and faithful friend" [ [http://news.webshots.com/photo/2168464940013765966OWbPoT Photograph of Thomas Gilbert's gravestone] , accessed 5 July 2008.] .

Gilbert Street in the city centre of Adelaide is named after Thomas Gilbert. The Gilbert Valley in mid-north South Australia, along with the river flowing through it (the Gilbert River) are also named after him, with the town of Riverton deriving its name from this same river.

Notes

References

* [http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/adelaide/library/library.htm Adelaide - Libraries and Institutes, Birth of First Library and The Adelaide Book Society] , accessed 5 July 2008
* [http://www.freemasonrysaust.org.au/adelaidestreets.html Adelaide streets named for Freemasons] , accessed 6 July 2008
* [http://www.historysouthaustralia.net/STlist2.htm#gil History of Adelaide through street names] , accessed 5 July 2008
* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/shipping/cygnet.htm Passengers arriving in South Australia - Cygnet 11 September 1836] , accessed 5 July 2008
* [http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs50.aspx#section4 Post office records (South Australia), National Archives of Australia] , accessed 5 July 2008