Alexander Tolmer

Who was Alexander Tolmer?

Alexander Tolmer was a South Australian police officer and Police Commissioner. He migrated to the new colony in 1840 and was made sub-inspector by Governor George Gawler.

In August 1940, Tolmer was part of the punitive expedition to the Coorong after Aborigines massacred 25 shipwreck survivors from the ship Maria, which had been travelling from Port Adelaide to Hobart.

Tolmer was instrumental in creating the gold escort route between Mount Alexander near Castlemaine, Victoria and Adelaide in the 1850s and also helped to establish the town of Bordertown.

He died in 1890 and was buried at the Mitcham Cemetery in an Anglican service.