Arthur Hardy and family; Mabel Hardy, Arthur Hardy junior, Arthur Hardy, Ethel Hardy, Martha Hardy and Herbert Mansell Hardy.

This is a stiff posed studio photograph. Arthur Hardy arrived in South Australia in 1839, hoping that the climate would be beneficial to his health, as several members of his family had already died of tuberculosis. He prospered on land at what is now the Adelaide suburb of Paradise, took up further land, established a law practice and in 1848 visited England where he married Martha, daughter of Lt. Col. Frederick Price of Guernsey and sister of Henry Price, with whom Arthur had a partnership. Hardy built 'Birksgate' at Glen Osmond adjacent to the quarries he owned, and later 'Mt Lofty House', the first house on the slopes of Mt Lofty itself. Interested in education he founded the Glen Osmond Institute, and later donated land for the Crafers Institute. He also initiated the building of the school at Crafers.

Martha compiled a large scrapbook of illustrations to amuse her children. This is in the Children's Literature Research Collection.

Hardy, Arthur, 1816-1909

Hardy, Mabel. History of the Hardy Family in South Australia,PRG 101/13

Martin, Robert (ed.) The lasting hills: essays in the history of the Adelaide Hills, Maylands, S. Aust.: Robert Martin, 2006 see: Chapter 7 'Arthur Hardy of 'Mt Lofty House'

Australian Dictionary of Biography online: Hardy, Arthur (1817-1909)

Mount Lofty House, Adelaide Hills: history of the house

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-