Name William Mills | ||
William George James Mills (7 September 1859 – 20 September 1933), generally referred to as W. G. Mills, was a sheep breeder and politician in South Australia.
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History
William was born at "Millbrae", Native Valley, near Nairne, South Australia, the son of Richard Mills the younger (1840–1870). He was educated at Nairne public school and Rev. A. Law's grammar school at Mount Barker. He gained experience as a jackaroo for Robert Browne, manager of Winnininnie Station in the north of the State. He took over his father's farm around 1880 and continued breeding Merino sheep with some success, purchasing valuable rams from Alick J. Murray, and expanded the farm from 500 to 5,000 acres (200 to 2,020 ha), including "Bondleigh" farm, later held by his eldest son, W. Champion Mills.
In 1928 he took on his son Alec Mills as partner in "Millbrae". He purchased another property, in the Adelaide Hills, which he named "Sturtbrae", which was later subdivided as Bellevue Heights by his daughters Margaret and May.
Politics
He was in 1915 a foundation member of the Farmers and Settlers' Association, and for five years its president. This Association was to become the nucleus of the Country Party in South Australia. In 1918 he successfully stood for a Northern district seat in the South Australian Legislative Council, and held that seat until 1933, when he declined to stand due to poor health.
Family
He married Elizabeth Martha "Lizzie" Champion (1861–1961) on 19 July 1882; they had five sons and four daughters:
Most members of the family were buried at Blakiston cemetery.