Biographical Notes |
Note: William was born at Gawler Plains and raised at Glenunga. He was educated at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide. As an only child, he saw a lot of his Goldsack cousins, who lived nearby. A member of the Adelaide Cycling Club, he made a name for himself in the hill climb, winning several trophies. He attended art school and excelled in drawing and enjoyed woodwork, fretwork and gardening. His daughter Jean remembers him as a gentle, honest man. On 31.10.1901 he married Mary Atkinson, known as Polly, at St Saviours Church, Glen Osmond. She died of tuberculosis at their home in Scott Street, Parkside on 28.5.1911, aged 32. In 1907, his Uncle Alexander named William executor of his will, describing him as an ironmonger's assistant, living at Parkside and leaving him £5/5/- for "his trouble." When the will was proved in 1913, William was again described as an ironmonger's assistant, but then as living at Glenunga.
William married Olga Stephania Kroemer, who had nursed his first wife, on 1.3.1913 at Young St Parkside Methodist Church. They built a new home in Myola Avenue, Glen Osmond on part of the original Glenunga land. In late 1923, they built "Glen Brae," at 74 Burnside Road, Kensington Gardens.
William inherited the original Glenunga House and part of the land attached to it from his mother. He was also mentioned in the wills of his aunts, inheriting £20 from Janet Ferguson. William later sold Glenunga, helping to finance Olga's brother, Walter Cromer in founding Austral Sheet Metal Works. He worked in the office of ASM until deafness forced him to retire. He died on 23.1.1948, aged 73. Olga died on 25.3.1977.
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