George William Hannaford was born in Hartley Valley, near Gumeracha, the third son of George Williams Hannaford. He was educated at Tungkillo along with his brothers and sisters, boarding in the town during the week and returning home for the weekends. At age fifteen he and his two elder brothers John and Samuel left to establish a farm at Riverton. In 1873 he purchased a property at Oyster Bay. In 1875 he married, and they left Riverton for the Yorke Peninsula property, which they named "Hoowoodgee", and grew wheat, in rotation with lucerne or mustard. He was for a time manager of the Governmentexperimental farm at Mannahill. In 1880 they moved to "Dingo Vale" Cudlee Creek, where he established an apple and pear orchard and an apiary of some 100 hives, founded by queen bees he imported from Italy. In 1897 Hannaford despatched 100 cases of apples to London as refrigerated cargo per Orotava. They arrived in first class condition and fetched premium prices. He was also a pioneer of exporting fruit to Germany. He retired to Kent Town, where he died. His remains were interred in the family vault, Cudlee Creek Cemetery.
Other interests
He was prominent in the formation of a Yorke Peninsula Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
George Hannaford, a descendant of Susannah Hannaford, married Bertha Hayler Whibley, née Linfield, in 1876; lived at "Dingo Vale", Cudlee Creek, then "Concord", Paradise, then Kent Town. Their family included:
Bertha Ann Hoowoodgee Hannaford married Allen John Pool on 12 October 1898, lived at St. Peters
George Lancelot Linfield Hannaford lived at "Angora Glen", Millbrook
Ernest Hayler Hannaford MHA married Florence Elizabeth Pool in 1904. He was chairman Talunga Council 1912–1920, and mayor of St Peters, lived at "The Briars", Millbrook, later College Street, St. Peters. They had two sons and two daughters.
Harry Oswell Hannaford married Isabella Jean "Jane" Lillecrapp on 31 October 1906, lived Dingo Vale, Cudlee Creek then Belair. They had two sons and four daughters.
Bessie Josephine Hannaford married A William Lillecrapp on 10 October 1906, lived in Eden Valley
