John Darling and Son facts for kids
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John Darling and Son was a very important Australian company. It started in Adelaide, South Australia. For many years, it was the biggest company in Australia that bought and sold wheat and milled flour.
The company was started by John Darling Sr. (1831–1905). He was a businessman from Scotland and a Member of Parliament for 25 years. After him, his oldest son, John Darling, Jr. (1852–1914), took over. He was also a Member of Parliament. Later, Harold Gordon Darling led the company. In 1953, it became a private company in Victoria with three directors: Norman Darling, Leonard Darling, and Leonard Gordon Darling.
Contents
How the Company Started
John Darling Sr. was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1831. His family was not rich. He had to leave school at age 11 because his father died.
He worked several small jobs. Many of his friends moved to South Australia in 1851. John Darling realized there were not many chances for him in Edinburgh. So, he decided to follow his friends. He was not wealthy enough to get help with the travel cost. It took him some time to save money to move.
Growing the Business
In early 1855, John Darling, his wife, and two sons arrived in Semaphore, South Australia. He quickly found work in a store. Later, he worked for a baker. After two years, he started his own small business with a horse and cart. His wife also opened a small shop.
He then got a job with James Smith, who owned a flour mill. For five years, John Darling learned all about the wheat and flour business. In 1865, he started his own independent trading business. In 1867, he took over managing grain stores.
In 1872, he made his oldest son, John Darling Jr., a partner. The company was then called J. Darling & Son. For 30 years, the business grew a lot. John Darling Sr. became known as the "Grain King." He opened branches all over South Australia where wheat was grown. He bought flour mills and set up offices in Melbourne in 1880 and in London. His company handled most of Australia's wheat exports.
John Darling Sr. retired in 1897. His son, John Darling Jr., became the only owner. John Darling Sr. died in 1905 from heart failure. Under John Darling Jr., the company bought more flour mills. He also started a business that pressed hay in Gawler.
John Darling Jr. died in Melbourne in 1914. He had been there for a meeting when he became ill.
Ships and the Sea
In 1884, John Darling and Son had a ship built called the Jessie Darling. This ship carried grain between ports in South Australia and Melbourne. You can see a picture of the ship online.
The Jessie Darling was in some accidents. The most serious happened on April 21, 1907. Another ship, the Norma, was waiting in the harbor. It was hit by another steamer, the Ardencraig. Both ships sank, and one person died. Hours later, the Jessie Darling, carrying wheat, hit the sunken wreck of the Norma and also sank.
The Jessie Darling was pulled out of the water in January 1908. It was repaired and started working again in November. The company also bought another ship, the Grace Darling, which started service in March 1908.
The company also owned other ships like the Palmerston, the Emu, and the Avoca.
The Third Generation
John Darling Jr. had four sons:
- John Darling III: He had an accident and broke his back. His brother Harold then took on more responsibility for the business with their brother Leonard.
- Leonard
- Joe Darling: He was the captain of the Australian Cricket Test team from 1897 to 1905.
- Harold Gordon Darling: He became very important in the business world. During his time, the family business moved from Adelaide to Melbourne. They had flour mills in Albion (Melbourne) and Rhodes (Sydney).
Harold Gordon Darling
Harold Gordon Darling (1885–1950) was the oldest son of John Darling Jr. He joined the family business in 1903. He is most famous for being the chairman of BHP, a very large mining company.
He held many important jobs during his life:
- He became the manager of John Darling and Son after his father died in 1914.
- He was on the board of BHP from 1914 and was its chairman from 1923 to 1950. During his time, BHP grew a lot.
- He was a member of the Australian Wheat Board during World War I.
- He was chairman of several other big companies, including Australian Iron & Steel and Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.
- He was also a director for important banks and chemical companies.
Even though he was very powerful and good at business, Harold Gordon Darling did not like being in the public eye. He rarely spoke in public. In 1929, he gave £10,000 to start the Waite Soil Research Centre in Adelaide. He was sad that his gift had to be made public. He left behind his wife, a son named John, and two daughters. He left a lot of money when he died.
- Recognition
- A painting of him was made in 1951. It is now in the National Portrait Gallery.
- For some time, BHP offered a scholarship in his name for employees and their families.
Other Family Members
Leonard Gordon Darling, known as Gordon, was Harold Gordon Darling's nephew. He was also a businessman and helped fund the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
What Happened Later
In 1962, John Darling and Son (Aust) Ltd. was bought by another company called Allied Mills. Then, in 1986, Allied Mills was taken over by Fielder Gillespie Davis Limited.
See also
