22 October 1939        Sir Langdon Bonython

Sir Langdon Bonython was a millionaire when he died at the age of 91 on 22 October 1939. He had joined the staff of the Advertiser in 1864 at 16 years of age and was a protégé of one of the founders, J.H. Barrow, who had control over editorial policy. While still young Bonython became chief of the reporting staff and then sub-editor. In 1878 he was made a member of the firm of Barrow and King at the same time as Frederick Burden, a stepson of Barrow. King retired in 1884 and the firm became Burden and Bonython. In 1893 Burden sold his interest and Langdon Bonython became sole proprietor at the age of 45. He had a great interest in education and was instrumental in establishing the School of Mines and was president of Roseworthy College. Lavington Bonython, Langdon’s eldest son, followed his father into the management. Langdon’s father, George Langdon Bonython, represented an old Cornish family, the Bonythons of Bonython and Carclew, (hence the name of the house in North Adelaide) who were landowners in Cornwall for 700 years. The parents came to South Australia when Langdon was a child and he was educated in Adelaide.

J.J. Pascoe (ed), History of Adelaide and Vicinity, Hussey & Gillingham, Adelaide, 1901, pp.316-19.