Whitington family

The Whitington family article concerns a nineteenth- and twentieth-century family associated principally with South Australia and, through several branches, Tasmania, Victoria and other parts of Australia. Its best-documented early figure was William Smallpeice Whitington, an English settler who reached South Australia in July 1840 aboard his own vessel, New Holland, commanded by Captain P. Bussell. The voyage carried a profitable cargo and also brought two thoroughbred horses, Falklandina and Actæon, described as South Australia's first thoroughbred mare and stallion. They became the foundation of John Baker's racing stud. Whitington subsequently established the shipping business Whitington & Co. and participated in the colony's early maritime development. He introduced the steamers Corsair and Courier and the brig Enterprise, which traded between South Australian ports. The vessels entered service at a time when overland transport routes were expanding, and the investment proved commercially unsuccessful. Whitington later put money into several mining ventures, also reportedly sustaining substantial losses. His career therefore combined entrepreneurial ambition with a series of costly transport and investment decisions. The family expanded through numerous descendants who became visible in public and professional life. Peter Whitington was a senior public servant and, with Tom Gill, was commissioned to examine the South Australian public service in 1902. George Falkland Whitington trained as a solicitor but was repeatedly involved on the wrong side of the law. John Bull Whitington became a director in the southern region of the South Australian Railways. Other relatives worked as teachers, accountants, mining engineers, clergy, business directors and administrators. The family also produced several writers and journalists. Ernest Whitington wrote the newspaper column Out Among The People under the pen name Rufus, first for The Register and later for The Advertiser. Bertram Lindon Don Whitington became a political journalist and author, while Percy Whitington contributed local-history articles to regional newspapers under the initials P.W. Richard Smallpeice Dick Whitington was a South Australian cricketer who became particularly known as a sporting writer. Cultural activity was another important strand. Clytie Whitington was an accomplished pianist, and her sister Sylvia was a violinist, teacher and orchestra leader. During the First World War, Sylvia created the Adelaide Orchestra as a fundraising initiative, with activity reported from 1915 to 1918. She later married Adelaide Conservatorium pianist George Mayo Pearce. Other family members served in the clergy, education and the armed forces. Frederick Taylor Whitington served as Archdeacon of Hobart for much of the period from 1895 to 1927, while Louis Arnold Whitington served with the Australian Imperial Force and was reported missing before being identified as a prisoner of war. Arthur Rex Whitington served in the Royal Australian Air Force and died in an aircraft crash in England during the Second World War. The Whitington family is not presented as a modern consumer brand or continuing commercial group. Rather, it is a genealogical and historical subject documenting the activities and public contributions of a large Australian family over several generations.

William Smallpeice Whitington, born around 1811, emigrated from England to South Australia in 1840. He travelled on New Holland, a ship that he owned, and arrived in July of that year under the command of Captain P. Bussell. The cargo generated a profit and the voyage also carried Falklandina and Actæon, the mare and stallion associated with the beginnings of John Baker's thoroughbred racing stud in the colony. Whitington became involved in colonial shipping through Whitington & Co. He introduced Corsair and Courier, identified as early South Australian steamers, and used the brig Enterprise for inter-port trade. The business encountered difficult timing: overland transport routes were opening as the vessels entered service, reducing the commercial prospects of the maritime investments. Whitington later invested in mining ventures and lost heavily in that field as well. He married Mary Emily Martin on 23 January 1840. Their descendants formed a broad network of professionals and public figures. Peter Whitington entered the South Australian public service and later took part with Tom Gill in a 1902 inquiry or report on the public service. George Falkland Whitington qualified as a solicitor, although his biography also records repeated legal troubles. John Bull Whitington became a director for the southern region of the South Australian Railways. Several later family members became teachers, including R. McDonnell Whitington and Arthur Onslow Whitington, who held teaching posts at numerous South Australian schools and later became head teacher at Hawker. The family was represented in journalism and publishing. Ernest Whitington used the name Rufus for a widely associated newspaper column, Out Among The People. Don Whitington worked as a political journalist and author, and Percy Whitington wrote regional historical pieces. Dick Whitington combined cricket with a career as a sports writer. Other relatives pursued mining engineering, accountancy, timber-business management and church administration. Frederick Taylor Whitington served as Archdeacon of Hobart from 1895 to 1927. Music and performance formed another notable family tradition. Clytie Whitington was a pianist, while Sylvia Whitington became a violinist, teacher and orchestra leader. Sylvia organized the Adelaide Orchestra as a wartime fundraising effort between 1915 and 1918 and later married pianist George Mayo Pearce of the Adelaide Conservatorium. Military service and wartime loss also appear in the family record. Louis Arnold Whitington served as a lieutenant with the 48th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Although initially reported killed in France, he survived and was held as a prisoner of war. Arthur Rex Whitington served with the RAAF and died in an aircraft accident in England in 1942. The family article also records the early death of Theodore Alexander Alick Whitington after a fall from a cliff near Browns River, Tasmania, in 1906. Across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Whitingtons therefore participated in the development of colonial and Australian institutions without forming a single enduring commercial enterprise. Their historical significance rests on the range of occupations and public activities represented among the descendants of William Smallpeice Whitington.

• 1915

  Adelaide Orchestra founded as a wartime fundraiser

  [1]Whitington familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sylvia Whitington created the Adelaide Orchestra, which appeared in connection with fundraising during the First World War.

• 1902

  Public-service report

  [1]Whitington familyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Whitington and Tom Gill were commissioned to report on the South Australian public service.

• 1840

  William Smallpeice Whitington reaches South Australia

  [1]Whitington familyen.wikipedia.org

  Whitington arrived aboard his own ship, New Holland, carrying cargo and two thoroughbred horses associated with the foundation of an early South Australian racing stud.

• 1840

  Marriage of William Smallpeice Whitington and Mary Emily Martin

  [1]Whitington familyen.wikipedia.org

  William Whitington married Mary Emily Martin on 23 January, establishing the family line described in the article.

A historical family subject rather than a contemporary commercial brand.

• 1915Adelaide Orchestra wartime fundraising

  South Australia

  Sylvia Whitington created the Adelaide Orchestra as a cultural organization supporting wartime fundraising. The activity continued through 1918.

  Outcome. The orchestra operated during the First World War and is recorded as one of Sylvia Whitington's principal public contributions.

  Source

• 1840

  Expansion into colonial shippingStrategy

  Background

  After arriving in South Australia, William Smallpeice Whitington established Whitington & Co. and pursued maritime transport opportunities.

  Action taken

  He introduced the steamers Corsair and Courier and used the brig Enterprise for trade between South Australian ports.

  Aftermath

  The investment proved commercially unsuccessful because overland routes were opening as the vessels entered service.

  Source

• Investment in mining venturesOther

  Background

  Following his shipping activities, William Smallpeice Whitington invested in several mining enterprises.

  Action taken

  He committed capital to mining projects that were later described as loss-making.

  Aftermath

  The ventures reportedly caused substantial financial losses.

  Source

1. 1Whitington familyen.wikipedia.org