W. H. Formby

'''William Harper Formby''' (14 April 1818 – 12 October 1892), generally referred to as '''W. H. Formby''', was a South Australian pioneer, horse breeder, broker, exporter and dealer.

==History== Formby was born in Liverpool, England, to John Formby and Helen Formby, née Harper, of Maghull,<ref name=Chronicle1861/> near Liverpool.

By 1841 he and his brother John Formby were stockholders in the Little Para area.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71614626 |title=The Protest |newspaper=Southern Australian |volume=IV |issue=208 |location=South Australia |date=18 May 1841 |accessdate=9 November 2025 |page=1 (Supplement) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In May 1843 the brig ''Davidsons'' arrived at Port Adelaide with William Formby in the cabin, and a great quantity of merchandise in the hold to account of Formby brothers,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71617037 |title=Imports |newspaper=The Southern Australian |volume=VI |issue=421 |location=South Australia |date=30 May 1843 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> who then offered for sale a range of requisites ex ''Davidsons'' and subsequent passage and carriage of freight to Hobart Town.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73843305 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=South Australia |date=3 June 1843 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Passengers from Adelaide to Tasmania included Mr H. Formby, Mr E. Formby, Mr and Mrs Hall and two children, Mr and Mrs Fairchild, Mrs Evans and two children, Mr and Mrs Brooks, and Alexander Stewart. Similar advertisements were placed in the Sydney newspapers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73843305 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Register |location=South Australia |date=3 June 1843 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In July 1843 the Formby brothers announced a similar sale of requisites, ex ''Davidsons'', in Hobart.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2952444 |title=Classified Advertising |newspaper=The Courier (Hobart) |volume=XVI |issue=920 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=14 July 1843 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The Formby brothers made further imports to South Australia: a shipment aboard ''Marys'' from Tasmania, which included 20 horses,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36239982 |title=Hobart Town |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |volume=IV |issue=301 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=14 May 1845 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and saddlery aboard ''Joseph Wheeler''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36240007 |title=Hobart Town |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |volume=IV |issue=302 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=17 May 1845 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and another horse per ''Royal Archer'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36240007 |title=Hobart Town |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |volume=IV |issue=302 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=17 May 1845 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

:It is likely the two brothers, perhaps with other members of the family, came to South Australia around 1840 to assess investment opportunities and one returned to Britain to put together a marketable quantity of in-demand commodities, while the other took advantage of opportunities to establish social and business connections and facilities.

By 1843 Formby was accepted as a member of the South Australian "establishment".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71617018 |title=The Queen's Birthday |newspaper=Southern Australian |volume=VI |issue=420 |location=South Australia |date=26 May 1843 |accessdate=9 November 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> This was a period of economic stagnation, Governor Grey's economic stringency in response to Gawler's profligacy; a period when businesses which managed to remain solvent profited when conditions improved.

Formby operated a shipping business, organising freight and passage between Adelaide and other colonies from premises in Gilbert Place.

By 1853 he was involved in colonial horse racing as an official, serving as starter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207121867 |title=Advertising |newspaper=Adelaide Times |volume=VII |issue=1042 |location=South Australia |date=8 December 1853 |accessdate=9 November 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

His export trade in horses may have begun in 1858 with a single animal being despatched to Bombay.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88819532 |title=Shipping News |newspaper=South Australian Weekly Chronicle |volume=I |issue=19 |location=South Australia |date=20 November 1858 |accessdate=10 November 2025 |page=2 (Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had an office in Currie Street from 1859 to 1883 and stables at Lockleys ("The Reedbeds"), and Rapid Bay.

He supplied 45 horses for New Zealand in 1863,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50167635 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXVII |issue=5320 |location=South Australia |date=13 November 1863 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> presumably as remounts associated with the New Zealand Wars.

Formby went into partnership with C. S. Hare to manufacture and market heavily compressed chaff cakes, each of {{convert|45|lb}} and measuring {{convert|18x18x4.5 |inches}}, as a convenient and nutritious feed for horses exposed to long sea voyages.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41023019 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXX |issue=6070 |location=South Australia |date=18 April 1866 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The product was received favourably at the 1866 Agricultural Show.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41018122 |title=Agricultural and Horticultural Show |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXX |issue=6025 |location=South Australia |date=23 February 1866 |accessdate=7 November 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

He supplied 21 horses for Calcutta<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92283413 |title=Shipping News |newspaper=South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail |volume=XII |issue=597 |location=South Australia |date=22 January 1870 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He supplied 18 horses for the Overland Telegraph Line construction<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39199855 |title=Horses for the Overland Telegraph Line |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXXV |issue=7400 |location=South Australia |date=2 August 1870 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

He also entered horses for meetings of the South Australian Jockey Club; his brown gelding Enfield won several good races in 1862<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50178838 |title=Autumn Meeting |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXVI |issue=2573 |location=South Australia |date=6 May 1862 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and 1863,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50174209 |title=Thebarton Races |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXVII |issue=5062 |location=South Australia |date=14 January 1863 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and his bay geldings Fluke in 1867 and Mentor in 1873 were successful, but he was better known as an official, particularly as timekeeper 1877–1878 and clerk of the course 1878–1879. His son H. H. Formby was (non-veterinary) surgeon to the Strathalbyn Racing Club 1926–1934.

Formby ran the horse bazaar "John Bull Yards" from 1870, in latter years in partnership with Joseph Boase (c. 1838 – 20 March 1898),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54526015 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XLIII |issue=16,022 |location=South Australia |date=21 March 1898 |accessdate=6 November 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} Boase left Adelaide for Ballarat sometime around 1897.</ref> who had been in his employ since the late 1850s<ref name=bazaar/> and married Catherine Paynter (1843–1922) in Strathalbyn in 1863. He was recognised as an authority on horseflesh.

In 1872, Thomas Gepp, a veterinary surgeon who had a practice in association with the John Bull yard, considered himself forced to defend his competence and independence from Formby after accusations (not found) by one Durieu,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73439322 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |location=South Australia |date=10 August 1872 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> perhaps (police inspector) Durieu.

In 1877 Formby and Boase<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35108896 |title=Miscellaneous News |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |volume=XL |issue=12300 |location=South Australia |date=21 March 1898 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> purchased the Queen's Theatre, Adelaide for conversion to a Tattersall's Horse Bazaar,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33748413 |title=Agricultural Land Selections |newspaper=The South Australian Advertiser |volume=XIX |issue=5792 |location=South Australia |date=12 May 1877 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and after considerable building work by Matthias White, Formby's Horse Bazaar was opened by Sir John Morphett in December.<ref name=bazaar>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40474360 |title=Opening of Formby's New Horse and Carriage Bazaar |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XLII |issue=9704 |location=South Australia |date=20 December 1877 |accessdate=6 November 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} includes detail related to history of Queen's Theatre.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90943151 |title=Opening of Messrs Formby |newspaper=South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail |volume=XX |issue=1,009 |location=South Australia |date=22 December 1877 |accessdate=6 November 2025 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}} much supplementary detail</ref>

In 1880 Formby began selling off his stock.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160129465 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Adelaide Observer |volume=XXXVII |issue=2003 |location=South Australia |date=21 February 1880 |accessdate=6 November 2025 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He sold up his home and extensive property on the Bay Road, Forestville, in order to live closer to the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43152084 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XLV |issue=10,525 |location=South Australia |date=7 August 1880 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The partnership was dissolved in 1884<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208286799 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |volume=XXII |issue=6,292 |location=South Australia |date=18 December 1884 |accessdate=6 November 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and in 1885 the business became known as Boase's Horse Bazaar.{{efn|In 1891 the business became "Allen's Horse Bazaar",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24808530 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=5 December 1891 |accessdate=6 November 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> in 1898 "Troy's Horse and Carriage Bazaar"; in 1901 Paltridge's Bazaar, later Butler & Shannon's or Shannon's Horse Bazaar.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59833493 |title=Real Estate News |newspaper=The Mail (Adelaide) |volume=21 |issue=1,060 |location=South Australia |date=17 September 1932 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>}}

==Family== Formby married Eleanor Elizabeth White (c. 1844 – 28 April 1926)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55028877 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |volume=XCI |issue=26,227 |location=South Australia |date=30 April 1926 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> on 11 November 1863;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50167635 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=South Australian Register |volume=XXVII |issue=5320 |location=South Australia |date=13 November 1863 |accessdate=5 November 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> they had five sons and three daughters: *Eleanor Formby (1865– ) married Henry Percival Moore on 30 November 1885 *Robert Formby (1866– ) married Madeline Rose Hotson of Robe on 8 September 1897, lived in Western Australia. *Arthur Formby (1869–1958), married Elsie Florence of Langhorne's Creek *Florence Formby (1872– ) married Richard C. Graham on 13 November 1897, lived in Adelaide *Frederick William "Fred" Formby (1875–1955), of Clarendon *Henry Harper Formby (5 December 1876 – 18 January 1956), of Strathalbyn<ref>{{cite web|url=https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:377556/one?qu=%22rcs%3A+E005373%22&rt=false%7C%7C%7CIDENTIFIER%7C%7C%7CResource+Identifier |title=Plarr's Lives of the Fellows |publisher=Royal College of Surgeons of England |access-date=8 November 2025}}</ref> :*Henry Lonsdale Formby (1912– ) *Hugh Formby (1879–1948) *Norah Formby (1881– ) married Albert Curtis on 3 March 1908, of Ballarat After the death of her husband in 1892, Mrs Formby remained at their home "Metala", Langhorne Creek for a few years, then in 1904 left to live with her son H. H. Formby at Strathalbyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46510275 |title=Obituary |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=8 May 1926 |accessdate=4 November 2025 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

John Formby (1820 – 30 September 1906)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97599910 |title=Town Tattle |newspaper=The Bunyip |issue=3,052 |location=South Australia |date=5 October 1906 |accessdate=8 November 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> was a brother, who arrived in 1840 and had a business in Port Adelaide. He married Mary Ann Hollow, and together they had 13 children. He was mayor of Port Adelaide 1869–1871, chairman of the Port Adelaide Football Club 1880–1892 and father of several prominent citizens, including: *Edward Formby (1848– ) married Sarah Solway Hanson in 1872, lived in Port Adelaide *Alfred Formby (1856–1932), founder and starter 1892–1897 for the Port Adelaide Racing Club.

Their brother Robert Formby gained fame as an inventor.<ref name=Chronicle1861>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90033463 |title=Formby's Patent Water-power Apparatus |newspaper=South Australian Weekly Chronicle |volume=III |issue=132 |location=South Australia |date=26 January 1861 |accessdate=10 November 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

== Notes == {{Notelist}} == References == {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Formby, William Harper}} Category:1818 births Category:1892 deaths Category:English emigrants to colonial Australia Category:Australian horse racing officials Category:Australian racehorse owners and breeders Category:British emigrants to the Colony of South Australia