The Acacias

Sir Edwin Thomas Smith KCMG (6 April 1830 – 25 December 1919) was an English-born South Australian brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and benefactor.

Smith was born on 6 April 1830 at Walsall, Staffordshire, England, the son of Edwin Smith. He was educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, and on leaving school had business experience with an uncle. When only 20 years of age Smith was taking part in local politics.

In 1853 Smith emigrated to South Australia aboard the California and began business as an importer of ironmongery at Adelaide, initially collaborating with his cousin James Alexander Holden.

On 25 June 1857 he married Florence, daughter of Robert Stock of Clifton, England. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Florence died in 1862.

In 1860 he went into partnership with Edward Logue of the Old Kent Brewery. When Logue died in 1865, Smith successfully continued the business. In 1876 he moved the business to the Kent Town Brewery at the eastern end of Rundle Road. The malt towers of the brewery have now been turned into luxury apartments overlooking the Adelaide Park Lands and Adelaide city centre. In 1888 he amalgamated his business with that of William Knox Simms to form the South Australian Brewing Company.

He took part in municipal government, was Mayor of the Town of Kensington and Norwood (later incorporated within City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters), 1867–70, and 1871–73, and then was elected to the Adelaide City Council. He served three terms as Mayor of Adelaide in 1879–82, 1886–87 and 1887-88.

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