James Collins Hawker
| James Collins Hawker | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
April 10, 1821 Catsfield, England. |
| Died | May 15, 1901 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | explorer, surveyor, aide-de-camp, settler |
| Notable work | Early Experiences in South Australia |
James Collins Hawker (1821-1901) was an English-born explorer, surveyor, diarist and pastoralist of South Australia, aide-de-camp to Governor George Gawler, and subequently Comptroller of H.M. Customs at Port Adelaide.
Hawker was born at Catsfield in England. He was a son of Admiral Edward Hawker, R.N.. After an educational career in French, Swiss, and Italian academies, his education was completed at the High School in , London.
He had two brothers, George Charles Hawker and Charles Hawker with both of whom he eventually settled in Australia in 1841.
Hawker sailed to South Australia in 1838 with Governor George Gawler, who was an old friend of his father, and who was to succeed Captain Hindmarsh, R.N., the first viceregal representative in the colony. Gawler had made an offer to Hawker's father to take one of his sons to South Australia with him when he took up his new post. They duly arrived in Adelaide in October, and Hawker accompanied the new governor on his official entry into the city, and witnessed the swearing-in at the viceregal residence. In those days Adelaide was still described as a "wretched mudhole", and it was there that Hawker would meet his future wife, Louisa Lipson (1829 – 5 August 1918), and his future father-in-law, Captain Thomas Lipson, R.N.
In December 1838, Hawker joined the party which conducted a survey on the Sturt River, led by J. W. McLaren who became Deputy Surveyor-General of South Australia. Hawker was the fourth officer in that party, and subsequently led a survey party on the Onkaparinga River. Amongst the officers was Mr. John McDouall Stuart, explorer and draughtsman. Hawker executed surveys in other parts of the colony, before resigning and returning to Government House to assist in the Private Secretary's office. He was present at the public dinner given to Colonel Gawler in 1840, and later in that same year he left for England in the ship Katherine Stewart Forbes.
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