Daniel Wilkie Melvin

Daniel Wilkie Melvin ( – 29 July 1916) was an auctioneer in the early days of Adelaide, South Australia.

History

Melvin was born and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and emigrated to South Australia in 1852

1850 The barque Young England Isabella and William Melvin? 1853 Cleopatra 1854 The steamer Havilah Mrs Melvin and son

He worked as sub-editor of the South Australian Register for over nine years

He established his auctioneering business

He built Melvin Chambers

He was the doyen of the general auctioneers, of Adelaide, if not of the State. He wielded the hammer in King William street for about 34 years prior to 1909, when he sold the balance of his lease of the Adelaide Central Mart to Messrs. Megaw & Hogg, and transferred his business to Victoria square. He began his work on the site of the present United Service Hotel, where he purchased the tenancy of the late Mr. Emanuel Cohen, upon resigning the position of sub-editor of The Register, which he had held for more than nine years. Shortly afterwards he built Melvin Chambers, where he traded until seven years ago. He paid £680 at auction for the lease, and spent nearly £5,000 in building; the ground rent alone in 30 years amounted to £16,000, the rates and taxes to several thousands, and the owners of the fee simple were in 1909 the proprietors of the structure. Mr. Melvin was a keen student. He was an enthusiastic chess player, and in that respect was closely associated with the late Mr. A. Charlick, who also died last week. Mr. Melvin was born in Edinburgh in 1838, and arrived in Adelaide when 14 years of age. After having been in the drapery business for some years he launched out in partnership with a brother and sister in that line at Oakbank, and later at Moonta. At the last named place he was a prominent worker in establishing the Baptist Church, and in Adelaide he was on various commit-tees in connection with that denomination. He was also a member of the council of the Caledonian Society.

Melvin died at his residence, Unley Park, on Saturday, July 29

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By the death of Mr. D. W. Melvin, which occurred at his residence, Unley Park on July 29, South Australia, has lost a widely known and highly esteemed citizen. For half a century he was a familiar figure in the main business thoroughfares of Adelaide, and he was always greatly respected in city circles as a man of unswerving rectitude. Although during recent years he lived a life of comparative retirement, he is still well remembered as a man of remarkable activity and one who deeply interested himself in religious and philanthropic work. His association with the Flinders-street Baptist Church, of which he was a leading spirit, began soon after the church was founded in 1861. Two of his sisters, Mrs. J. Whiting and Mrs. J. Beeby were foundation members, and Mr. Melvin joined on December 11, 1861, the church having been founded on August 5 of the same year. In April, 1864, he severed his connection with Flinders-street congregation and removed to Moonta, but he returned in May, 1867, and remained in communion at that church until he transferred his membership to the North Adelaide church in 1882. In his early years he took an active interest in the various organisations connected with the Baptist denomination, and as a lay preacher frequently occupied the pulpits of the different suburban churches, his services being greatly appreciated and in constant demand. He served the Baptist church in many other capacities, and occupied a place on several of the more important commit-tees of the Baptist Union. He was a native of Edinburgh, and reached South Australia in 1852, when 14 years of age, the rest of the family having preceded him. For a time he was employed in the drapery business by Messrs. Goode Brothers. Subsequently he was with the late Mr. James Whiting, Mrs. Whiting being his sister. Later on he was a partner in a store keepers' and wheat-buying business at Oak-bank. After a time spent in Adelaide, Moonta attracted his energies, and for a while he was engaged in storekeeping in the prosperous mining town, where he took a deep interest in public matters and in the general prosperity of the district. He was postmaster and registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, and wag largely instrumen-tal in establishing the Baptist Church there and did much to promote the interests of the literary society. A period of several years ensued in which he devoted himself to journalism in Adelaide. As an auctioneer in which capacity he is best re-membered, he gained a wide reputation, and the buildings known by his name in King William-street were erected in 1876. During the land boom in the mid eighties Mr. Melvin lost heavily, but he honorably met all his liabilities. He was at one time a member of the council and executive com-mittee of the National League, and also a member of the council of the Caledonian Society. He was a student, and even when engaged in strenuous business pursuits, he found time to spend with his books, a lover of which he remained until failing sight made reading practically impossible to him. He was also an enthusiastic chess player in his younger days. Mr. Melvin was three times married, and leaves a widow, four sons and three daughters.

The first Mrs Melvin

We regret to have to record the death of Mrs. D. W. Melvin, of Lower Mitcham, after a short but very severe illness, on January 1. Mrs. Melvin, who will he missed by hundreds of friends, was born at Noarlunga in 1853, her parents having arrived in the colony in 1839. Nearly all her life she had lived in or in the vicinity of Adelaide, and her unostentatious kindliness had endeared her to many. She was for a long time a member of the Flinders Street and afterwards of the North Adelaide Baptist churches, and_ was on the' committee of the missionary and Zenana societies. Mr. Melvin has in his bereavement received many expressions of sincere condolence, both verbally and by letter, and amongst others from the Y.W.C.A. and the Zenana committee. Mrs. Melvin's remains were interred at the West Terrace cemetery, when the service was conducted by the .Hevs. J. G. Raws and C. Bright. Besides relatives there were a large numbers of friends assembled, including the Revs. H. T. Burgess, R. Woolcoclt, S. Fairey, G. Hogben, R. McCullough, and R. iL Finlayson, the Hon. J. G. Jenkins, M.P., Lady Colton, Messrs. A. Macdonald, A. W. Sandford, and _ J. Wyles, representing the Caledonian Society, Messrs. A. S. Neill, M. Burgess, C. H. Goode, W. H. Wadey, G. Wilcox, J. C. Phillips, H. J. Pudney, T. Evans, C. Rogers, J. M. Dowie, J. S. Scott, J. "A. Sando, J. Crocker, M. H. Madge, W. J. Coote, G. A. Wyld, R. Dempster, W. Page, W. Hall, F. W. Pilley, F. J. Cropper, G. Conquest, and A. Baker.

Family

Mr. Melvin was twice married. There are five sons (Messrs. R. C., Harry, C., Herbert, and M. Melvin) and two daughters.

Melvin had a sister, Mrs Isabella Melvin Whiting (12 November 1826 – ), which occurred at the Queen Mary Hospital at Hyde Park on Friday, April 9, has removed one of the most notable old colonists in the State. She came to South Australia from Scotland 65 years ago at the age of 21, with her mother, two brothers, and two sisters, and soon after arrival married Mr. James Whiting. All her life she has been an enthusiast in phil-anthropic and temperance work in South Australia. On the formation of the Women's Christian Temperance Union by Mrs. Leavitt, a world's missioner, who visited South Australia in 1889, Mrs. Whiting became one of the first members. For many years afterwards she held various positions on the executive, including that of President and Treasurer. She was also State Superintendent of Mothers' Unions for some years. In 1881, she, with 24 of their original members, formed the Bap-tist Church in Flinders street, and, until illness supervened, she was a. constant attendant at all services, and a teacher at the Sunday, school.. For nearly half a century she was a deaconess, of the church. She enjoyed excellent health until recently, when she was attacked by a severe illness, but made a remarkable recovery. Mrs. Whiting had a family of nine children, including Mrs. E. S. Hughes, of Adelaide, Mr. C. M. Whiting, of Victoria, Mr. J. B. Whiting (Secretary to the Agent General in London'), and Mr. C. D. Whiting, of Adelaide. Mrs. Whiting was widely known in religious circles, and was beloved by all with whom she came in contact. The funeral, which was of a private character, took place on Saturday afternoon.

Margaret Melvin married John Beeby in 1852

Another sister married George Duke

Brother W. Melvin in Western Australia.

External links

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