Notable South Australians/Joseph Mellor
Joseph Mellor,
BORN at Elland, Yorkshire, September 9, 1808; arrived in South Australia June 27, 1840, with his wife and one child, by the ship "Fairlee." Adelaide was then covered with timber, though the streets were laid out, but not formed. He first worked at his trade (carpenter and joiner) for Mr. Pitman, builder, of Rundle-street, receiving from 16s. to 20s. per day; but in consequence of the high rates charged for all necessary commodities, it was, even with such wages, hardly possible to make ends meet. Mr. Mellor next took a farm at Goodwood, but with seed wheat at 21s. per bushel, and the crop when reaped only fetching 2s. 6d. per bushel, it was evident to him that to continue farming would result in serious loss; so he gave it up. He was of an inventive and speculative turn of mind, and undertook several Government contracts, one of which was to clear the trees and stumps off the South Park Lands. He also contracted for several up-country mails, and had conveyances running between Port Adelaide, Gawler, Kapunda, the Burra, and the city. Mr. Mellor was the founder of the Agricultural Implement Factory in Adelaide, now conducted by his sons, Mellor Bros., with its branches at Kapunda, Jamestown, and Quorn. The implements turned out at these establishments are favourably known and in great request, not only in South Australia, but the adjacent colonies. He introduced a great many new ideas and novelties, and was the first here to suggest wood-paving, by sending a wheel tire to the Corporation filled in with wood blocks about the year 1860, but the idea was not entertained. He won the first gold medal for his reaper in a match in 1856, and has manufactured several hundreds of the Ridley Reaper and Thresher combined. He was an active, industrious, and honourable man, ever ready to welcome new arrivals to the colony; and he, with his, worthy wife, entertained them hospitably under their roof, and did much to cheer and help them on their way. Though he took small interest in politics, he contested one election with the late F. S. Button for the County of light, but was an unsuccessful candidate. Mr. Mellor died at the Semaphore, December 28, 1880, aged 72.