John Bentham Neales, frequently referred to as "J. Bentham Neales" or "Bentham Neales", was a businessman and politician in the early days of South Australia, by some regarded as the "Father of Mining in South Australia". Neales was born in Plymouth, England, the son of Elizabeth née Bentham. Both parents died when he was very young, leaving him to be brought up by an uncle. He migrated to South Australia on the Eden, arriving on 24 June 1838.
Career
Neales began business in Adelaide as a general merchant, then an auctioneer, taking over much of the business of Robert Cock. He was then appointed Government auctioneer; the first four years under the alias "Neales Bentham" to avoid confusion with W. H. Neale, another auctioneer in the city. forming the Adelaide Auction Company in 1840. He bought land at Port Lincoln, where he founded its first newspaper, the Port Lincoln Herald in 1839. In 1841, Neales helped found the South Australian Mining Association which worked the "Wheal Gawler" silver-lead deposit at Glen Osmond then Montacute. The company later opened the copper mine at Burra, which made him a considerable fortune. He took over John Richardson's auction business on the north corner of King William and Hindley streets, where in 1846 he opened "Neale's Exchange Rooms" at the front of his Auction Mart, which served as South Australia's first major stock exchange. Around 1860, he was involved in a Parliamentary enquiry into the floating of the Great Northern Copper Mining Company of James Chambers.
Public life
Neales was one of Adelaide's original Board of City Commissioners, then a city councillor, when he actively supported the provision of roads, railway to the Port in 1849 water, drainage and gas supply. Neales was appointed to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1851 and was elected to the seat of North Adelaide in 1855. He was appointed one of the drafters of the State Constitution in 1852. Neales served as member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the City of Adelaide in 1857-60 and for the seat of The Burra from 1862 to 1870. Neales succeeded Francis Dutton as Minister for Crown Lands in 1865, and held that position for a year. A month after losing that seat, he was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council in 1870, a position he held until his death.
Recognition
On 6 June 1859, John McDouall Stuart named Neales River for him. The Hundred of Neales was also named for him. A remarkable tribute was paid him in the pages of The Register by John Howard Clark in the voice of "Geoffry Crabthorn", better known for pungent satire than fulsome praise:
Family
Neales married Margaret Williams on 11 July 1843. They had two sons and three daughters:
William Bentham Neales married Emma Palmer on 21 April 1883. He was, with T. Barnfield, R. C. Cornish and others, a founder of the Baker's Creek Company, that removed tons of gold from their mine near Hillgrove, New South Wales. He was also a founder of Adelaide Crystal Ice Company
John Bentham Neales
Caroline Bentham Neales married John Lyon Field on 3 June 1873
