David Gordon

Who was David Gordon?

Sir David John Gordon was an Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament, and later of the Legislative Council in the Parliament of South Australia.

Born in Riverton, South Australia, the son of a Scottish carpenter, miller and farmer, Gordon was educated at Stanley Grammar School, Watervale before his family moved to Yorke Peninsula where he worked on the family farm.

Gordon moved to Adelaide and worked as a grain merchant. He became a deacon of the Congregational Church, and met Anna Louise Peel, a pianist at his local church, who he married on 4 April 1888. Later that year Gordon became a journalist with the South Australian Register, in which capacity he accompanied Clement Giles on his exploration of central Australia. Returning from the trek, Gordon became an enthusiastic supporter of the development of central Australia, writing numerous books and articles on the subject over the next twenty years, including The Central State and The 'Nile' of Australia. Additionally, Gordon edited several editions of the annual Handbook of South Australia.

Gordon eventually became leader-writer at the Register and regularly advocated for the improvement of the farming and pastoral industries in South Australia, as well as transportation throughout the state. His level of influence was such that he was able to persuade the government to establish a freezing works at Port Adelaide.