Portrait of William Robert Swan from Pekina from the S.A. Northern Pioneers' composite, 1850-1859 (shown in position on B 6912/1).

Born in Northumberland England, 23 February 1821. He died 13 June 1892, age 72 at Stradbroke, Magill.

Swan came to South Australia, 1847 at the age of 26. He married Mary Laing nee Henderson 1 May 1876, at Torrens Park. She died in England on 29 March 1923. They had one child, Margaret Elizabeth, 1878 - 1933.

The Swan name is associated with the development of Eyre Peninsula. Initially Swan managed properties close to Port Lincoln through his employer, Mr Price Maurice. With Robert Barr Smith, Swan took up a pastoral run known as the Fowler's Bay run in the west. He was inspired to learn more about this area after the exploration of Edward John Eyre. Swan and his partners later acquired a number of other properties on the west coast. He was also involved in pastoral properties in Queensland and New South Wales, and was in partnership with Sir Thomas Elder, R Barr Smith, Cudmore and J Fisher and became a large shareholder in Elder, Smith & Co.

Price Maurice arrived in South Australia aboard the 'Calab Angas' in 1840. He was associated with sheep runs at Pekina, Oladdie, Warfow, Lake Hailton, Branfield and Mount Eba. Manager of many of his estates was Clement Sabine. He died in England.

Barr Smith, Robert, 1824-1915

Maurice, Price, 1818-1894

Eyre, Edward John, 1815-1901

Elder, Thomas, Sir, 1818-1897

Cudmore, James Francis, 1837-1912

Fisher, James Hurtle, Sir, 1790-1875

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Davies, A The Mechanical eye in Australia: Photography 1841-1900 Melbourne : Oxford University Press, 1985

Burrows, A. Kith and Kin: Sources for family history Libraries Board of South Australia, Adelaide: 1994

Kwan, Elizabeth. Living in South Australia: a social history, Netley, S. Aust.: South Australian Government Printer, 1987

Migration Museum. From many places: the history and cultural traditions of South Australian people, Kent Town, S. Aust.: Migration Museum (History Trust of S.A.) in association with Wakefield Press, 1995

The Wakefield companion to South Australian history. Editor Wilfrid Prest. Kent Town, S. Aust. : Wakefield Press, 2001

National Library of Australia. Pictures catalogue

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Art Gallery of South Australia About Photographers

RootsWeb.ancestry.com