John Harvey Finlayson

Who is John Harvey Finlayson?

John Harvey Finlayson, editor and part-owner of the South Australian Register, was born at "Helenholm", Mitcham, South Australia. He was one of nine children born to William Finlayson and his wife, née Helen Harvey.

He was educated at George Mugg's school and Adelaide Educational Institution, where he emulated the successes of his older brother R. K. Finlayson. He joined The Register in 1861 and became head reporter 1866, a proprietor in 1877 and editor in 1878, succeeding John Howard Clark, resigning in 1899 due to ill-health. He was then appointed resident reporter in Britain until retiring and returning to Adelaide in 1908, dying 7 years later.

As an editor he was an outspoken supporter of female suffrage, free secular education, free trade between the Colonies, and Federation.

Finlayson was an active Congregational churchman and was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1880.

In 1878 Finlayson built a residence "Strelda" in North Adelaide which still stands, at 217-221 Stanley Street.