Illustration of an Australian scrub landscape, drawn by Alexander Charles Kelly in the mid-1840s. The white pencil on paper sketch features a small dwelling and includes cows in the foreground.

Alexander Charles Kelly was born at Leith, Scotland in 1811. He was awarded a medical degree by Edinburgh University in 1832. Kelly acted as a surgeon on the East India Company's ships in 1833. He emigrated to South Australia aboard the Baboo in 1840 and began a medical practice at Port Adelaide. A year later, he was appointed assistant surgeon at Adelaide Hospital.

He subsequently bought land at Morphett Vale in 1842 and named the property 'Trinity'. In 1845, Kelly began planting vines on his property, and became a partner in Tintara Vineyard Company in 1862. Kelly was married in 1854 to Annie Worthington (1826-1912). He sold his Trinity vineyard and began planting vines for Tintara at Willunga in 1863. Tintara went into voluntary liquidation in the 1870s. Kelly retired in 1876 and died in 1877.

Kelly, Alex C., 1811-1877

Tintara Vineyard Company, Mclaren Vale, S Aust, Winery

D. Hall and V. Hankel, introduction to A. C. Kelly, Wine-Growing in Australia Sydney: David Ell Press, 1980

D. Hall and V. Hankel, The Vine in Australia Sydney: David Ell Press, 1980

Parliamentary Papers (South Australia), 1868-69, vol 2, paper no 56

Advertiser (Adelaide) 10 Sept 1877, p 5; 11 Oct 1877, p 4

South Australian Register 3 Nov 1877, p 13

Kelly papers (PRG 628, State Library of South Australia).