Preece Family Tree

OBITUARY.

Mr. William John Hannaford, horticulturist and grazier, of Mount Bera, Chain of Ponds, whose death was announced on Saturday, was the second son of the late Mr. Frederick Hannaford, a pioneer of the district and was born in 1863, at Clare, South Australia. Having been educated principally at Prince Alfred College, he joined his father at Mount Bera, and began his life's work in the fruitgrowing and grazing industry on the paternal property. The estate comprises 1000 acres, and, in addition, a property at Narracoorte was held by Mr. Hannaford conjointly with his brother, Elliott on freehold. At a recent date he also acquired the the Ludlow Estate, consisting of 240 acres, upon which a very fine residence was built some 60 years ago by the South Australian Company for one of its managers, this being afterwards used as a ladies' boarding school. Mr. Hannaford continued to reside at the old homestead, to which he went as a child of three years old from Clare. In the earlier days he exported a quantity of fruit to England on his own account, but more recently had disposal of his products for the same purpose to A. E. Pitt and Sons. He raised lambs, also for the export trade, and was connected with the woolgrowing industry, his flock comprising about 700 sheep of the merino breed. Mr. Hannaford was a deacon in the Baptist Church at Gumeracha, with which he had been associated for some years, and a member of the executive of the Fruitgrowers' Association. In 1886 he married a daughter of the late Mr. William Kelly, of Gould Creek, and at her death was left with a family of four sons and two daughters. In 1902 his second marriage took place, the present Mrs Hannaford being Mary Rebecca Ballantyne, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Henderson, Baptist minister of Orroroo, by whom be had one son.

OBITUARY.

Widespread regret was felt at the news of the sudden death of Mr. W. J. Hannaford, of Mount Bera, who was particularly well known in agricultural circles, and was much beloved for his kindly sympathetic nature, and sterling integrity of character. As supplementary to the biographical notice on Monday, it should be stated that the widow was formerly Miss M. Norsworthy, of Gumeracha, and there is one child of that marriage. Writing in The Register of June 16 of last year, "Kenton Hill" paid a high tribute to the deceased gentleman. The contributor said, inter alia:- "Throughout the Adelaide hills it is customary to find nearly all the early settlers' homes situated deep down in gullies, for the reason that it was there where water was obtainable. Mount Bera, however, is situated on one of the tops of a very high range of hills, but strangely enough, magnificent spring water is there in abundance. It is interesting to learn that the first dwelling erected on Mount Bera by Mr. W. J. Hannaford's father, was a rough slab hut of most breezy construction, and possessing one rather outstanding characteristic, for in the centre of the kitchen could be dipped from a hole in the floor all the water required for culinary purposes. This old hut has, of course, long since disappeared, and has been replaced by a large commodious building constructed of stone. This structure took a considerable time to build, and no wonder, for it boasts of a unique distinction, in having had the sand for its construction carted several hundreds of feet from the bank of the River Torrens below by means of pack horses! Another striking characteristic associated with this old home at Mount Bera was that the water for household purposes was pumped by means of in old-fashioned water wheel from the gurgling stream about 40 or 50 ft. distant, where the old slab hut was situated. One of Mr. W. J. Hannaford's earliest recollections of the new house is that of his father carrying lambs at night time into one of the front rooms in order to protect them from wild dogs, which at that time were very numerous and destructive. About 1887 a start was made in the planting of an orchard in a saucer-like formation fringed with the tops of the surrounding hills, and this has been extended from time to time by Mr. W. J. Hannaford, until it now covers an area of about 30 acres. One cannot pay a visit to Mount Bera orchard without being tremendously impressed with the potentialities of our 'inheritance in the hills.' Here, on a few acres of land, nestling high up and encircled by the ridges of lofty ranges of hills, is situated one of South Australia's most successful and profltable orchards. Mr. Hannaford has not only addressed his energies to personal matters, but has been a most public-spirited man. Throughout the district it is a matter for general regret that, through failing health, he has recently found it necessary to withdraw from wholehearted activities in connection with the Talunga District Council, Gumeracha Memorial Hospital Board, Town Hall Trust, Board of Health, Salem Baptist Church, Cudlee Creek School Committee, the S.A. Fruitgrowers' Association executive, representative at Interstate Fruitgrowers' Conference, and the directorate of J. H. Foureur, Limited. All these organizations will be the poorer for the loss of so ardent a supporter."