Henry Kent Hughes
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
Henry Kent Hughes (c. 1814 – 30 August 1880), usually referred to as H. Kent Hughes, was a pastoralist and politician who sat in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1868 to 1875 representing the seats of Victoria and later, Port Adelaide.
Early life
Hughes was born in England, possibly the son of Thomas Hughes, dyer, of Bunhill Row.
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|title=Admission registers of St. Paul's school, from 1748 to 1876
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He married Jane Hilditch (died 4 June 1890). They travelled to South Australia on the barque Raleigh, arriving at Port Adelaide on 15 January 1851.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43141631 |title=The Late Mr. Henry Kent Hughes |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=15 October 1880 |page=7 |access-date=26 November 2022}}
Hughes was, for a considerable period (at least 1838 – 1844)[http://www.hybridpublishers.com.au/media/sample/Crime_Sample.pdf Crime Investigation and Arrest 57 Hybrid Publishers] in the colony of Victoria; he was one of a party, with Peter Snodgrass MLC, a Mr. Murdoch, a Dr. Dixon and one James Murdoch, who pioneered settlement in the Goulburn Valley in Victoria.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5866577 |title=Introduction |newspaper=The Argus |date=25 March 1874 |access-date=12 December 2011 |page=1 |via=Trove}} With two brothers{{Cite web |url=http://www.burntcreeklandcare.org.au/news/2007/newsletter-june07.doc |title=Some "Bits" of History |access-date=12 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426045252/http://www.burntcreeklandcare.org.au/news/2007/newsletter-june07.doc |archive-date=26 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} he founded the property, later the town, of Avenel, often cited as named for a Gloucestershire village with which had a connection (though information on its whereabouts is lacking), his previous property in England,{{Cite web |url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=stories&story=726053965&pg=0&yr=0&u=greenfingers |title=The Origins of Avenel (1985)}} or Sir Walter Scott's fictional castle and family, of which the White Lady of Avenel is the best known. There is also a reference{{Cite web | url=http://highlands.org.au/ | title=About}} to his property "Dropmore" which may or may not have been a separate holding.
Around 1854 he formed a business association with the future premier of South Australia, John Hart, in the company Hart & Hughes with offices in Waymouth Street, Adelaide. They built Port Adelaide's first flour mill, run by Hart and Company, of which he was a silent partner. In 1882 John Hart & Co. joined with Morgan, Connor & Glyde.{{efn|William Morgan, C. H. T. Connor (1836–1926) and William Dening Glyde wheat and flour merchants with offices at 43 King William Street.}} W. Duffield & Co., James Cowan & Co. and Harrold Brothers to form Adelaide Milling Co. or Adelaide Milling and Mercantile Company,{{cite news|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43329349 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=1 August 1882 |access-date=11 January 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}} with Connor as general manager until shortly before his death in 1926.
Hughes purchased extensive properties on the River Murray, including one near Wellington where he ran sheep in conjunction with his brother Edmund Chauntrell Hughes, S.M., which was quite successful, largely because of careful breeding and the attention they paid to prevention of diseases.
Politics
In 1868 he put himself forward as M.P. for the Assembly District of Victoria, and was elected on 7 May with John Riddoch as a colleague. He remained in Parliament for three years, and went out at the dissolution in 1870, when he contested the seat of Port Adelaide and was elected with William Quin on 5 April 1870. He was Treasurer of South Australia in the 1868 Strangways ministry and the Ayers ministry of 1872. He left parliament at the dissolution of 1875, then was elected to the Legislative Council in 1877, but was forced in 1878 to resign on account of ill-health.{{Cite SA-parl |pid= |name=Henry Kent Hughes |former=yes |access-date=26 November 2022}} He returned to England in an attempt to regain his health but died at Kew in 1880.
Among his bequests were £250 to the Orphan Home and £300 for St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38218664 |title=South Australia |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |date=20 January 1881 |page=3 |access-date=26 November 2022}} His wife donated the tower clock on Saint Andrew's Church, Walkerville in his memory.
Other interests
He appears to have been a worshipper at Melbourne's St. Peter's Cathedral, briefly, around 1848.{{Cite web |url=http://web.stpeters.org.au/gallery/history/hist01.shtml |title=List of Subscribers to the Building Fund |access-date=12 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325152823/http://web.stpeters.org.au/gallery/history/hist01.shtml |archive-date=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}
He had a share in Section 2112, Port Adelaide which was subdivided by Private Act in 1852.{{Cite web | url=http://mapco.net/port1852/act.htm | title=MAPCO Map and Plan Collection Online : Plan of Section 2112 B, Port Adelaide, 1852}}
He was a director of the National Bank{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39264657 |title=National Bank |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=9 May 1872 |page=5 |access-date=26 November 2022}}
His chief public service was to act as Secretary and Treasurer for the Church of England's Orphan Home for Girls on Carrington Street. His wife, Jane, who survived him, was, with Julia Farr, one of the Home's founders.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47276058 |title=Orphan Home for Girls |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=16 July 1890 |page=7 |access-date=26 November 2022}}
His home in Adelaide was "Avenel", a ten-roomed residence on Robe Terrace, North Adelaide.{{cite news |url=http://www.walkerville.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Wville_Dec07.pdf |title=The First Christmas Tree |newspaper=Walkerville News |issue=January – March |year=2008 |page= 11 |access-date=26 November 2022}} Its 20 acres, "Avenel Gardens", was subsequently owned by William Pope, founder of North Adelaide Golf Club, then subdivided in the 1890s.{{cite web |url=http://www.theitbloke.com.au/na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=171&Itemid=182 |last=Bell |first=Clarrie |title=Centenary Year Souvenir Program Testimonial to William Pope |access-date=26 November 2022}}
Footnotes
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References
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Category:Settlers of South Australia
Category:Treasurers of South Australia
Category:Members of the South Australian House of Assembly
Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council
Category:Australian flour millers and merchants