Notable South Australians/W. Oldham
W. Oldham
MAY be called the founder of Kapunda, seeing that he Mm was for forty years connected with the town and intimately associated with so many of its useful institutions. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, February 9, 1811, and educated at Trinity College. For some time he was employed as confidential clerk in Guinnesses brewery. He emigrated to South Australia in 1838, and shortly after arrival filled the position of Protector of Aborigines, and in that capacity compiled a grammar of the Adelaide aboriginal tongue. He subsequently opened schools in Light-square, in Gawler, and Angaston. In 1847 he was appointed Purser to the Kapunda Mine, and on the retirement of Captain Bagot succeeded to the managership. He was for twenty years actively engaged in this work, during the flourishing days of the copper industry. He resigned in 1867 a post in which he had given general satisfaction as an arbitrator when disputes arose amongst the people, and engaged in business on his own account as a surveyor, architect, &c., and acted as clerk to the Kapunda District Council. Mr. Oldham took great interest in the volunteer movement, and organised the well-known Mines Rifle Company, in which he held in succession the position of Captain and Major. He was also an earnest preacher, and, as a Congregationalist minister, did much good. As a Magistrate for several years, and more recently a Freemason, his name was distinguished, and his character, if only for its ingenious versatility and wealth of resource, was worthy of admiration. He died at Kapunda, July 3, 1885, aged 75.