- Charles James Fox Campbell
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Charles James Fox Campbell Charles James Fox Campbell, circa ?. Personal details Born 1811 [1]
Kingsborough, Isle of SkyeDied 5 March 1859
North West Bend Station, Morgan, South AustraliaSpouse(s) Martha Levi Charles James Fox Campbell was a grazier and early settler of Adelaide, South Australia, whose name is commemorated in the Adelaide suburb of Campbelltown, South Australia and the municipality, the City of Campbelltown, South Australia.
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Early life
Charles James Fox Campbell was born in 1811 at Kingsborough House, Isle of Skye. He was the son of John and Annabelle Campbell.
In 1821 his family migrated to Sydney. He was orphaned at 16, and devoted himself to the field of agriculture, particularly pastoralism, after finishing his education. In 1838 he joined the first overland cattle expedition led by Joseph Hawdon to South Australia.
Formation of Campbelltown
Campbell purchased Sections 309 and 310 on a fertile plain near the River Torrens in 1842 and built a home he called "Lochend" after the ancestral home of his family in Scotland. Lochend was built of local river stone and included a stucco porch, hall and living room with a finely moulded ceiling. Campbell later substantially expanded Lochend by the addition of three bedrooms and a cellar.
Lochend included 4 acres (16,000 m2) of garden and 156 acres (0.63 km2) in the estate, primarily used as pastoral land. In 1849 he subdivided 16 acres (65,000 m2) into 40 gardening blocks under the name "Campbelltown".
Campbell was a close friend and financier of Captain Charles Sturt, who was also a local landholder of the district. It is thought that Campbell had bought land from Sturt in New South Wales in early 1838 (requires confirmation). After Sturt's arduous expedition to explore Australia's interior from 1844–1846, Campbell and his near neighbour from Newenham (now a part of modern day Paradise), Arthur Hardy, conveyed Sturt home in a carriage for part of the way on his journey from Moorundi to Adelaide in January 1846 where Sturt records he "arrived home at midnight on the 19th". Sturt named Campbell's Creek in the eastern Flinders Ranges (requires confirmation) as a tribute to Campbell.
In 1850 he married Martha Levi, sister of pastoralist Philip Levi. They had four sons together, Philip born 1851, Fredrick born 1852, Edmund born 1855 and William born 1857.
Campbell became very well known in the early days of South Australia, partially through his relationship with prominent people like Sturt, but also through his community involvement. He was a Justice of the Peace and is recorded as standing for the East Torrens Electorate of the Legislative Council in 1851. He was known as a great orator and sporting gentleman and was well liked and respected.
Campbell sold Lochend in 1858 for 2,600 pounds and moved to a new homestead on the North West Bend Station, where the River Murray changes from its north-south course to east-west near Morgan. Campbell died there on 5 March 1859 of blood poisoning from a minor cut to hand caused by a piece of glass, which subsequently turned septic. He is interred at the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide and his headstone is in good condition.
Legacy
Campbell's influence on his beloved Campbelltown was immense and lasted well past his departure from the area and subsequent untimely death. When residents of the area, then part of the District Council of Payneham, decided to form their own Council in 1868, attendees at the public meeting overwhelmingly voted to name the new District Council "Campbelltown" in his honour. The first meeting of the newly formed Council was held on 2 March 1868 at the Paradise Bridge Hotel.
In 1992 the Campbelltown High School based at Playford Road, Newton, South Australia was closed and merged with the Thorndon High School located on Campbell Road, Paradise, South Australia. The newly created school was named the Charles Campbell Secondary School in honour of Campbell.
His house, Lochend, fell into a derelict condition and was almost irretrievable. However, it was faithfully restored to near original condition by the City of Campbelltown, South Australia under the guidance of the Campbelltown Historical Society and was officially reopened on 29 February 2004.
References
External links
Categories:- Settlers of Australia
- 1859 deaths
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