Walter Padbury

Born 22/12/1820, Died 18/4/1907

W.A’s First Millionaire (Stirling pound)

Father: Thomas Padbury
Mother: Ruth Padbury
Older Brother: Edwin Padbury
Wife: Charlotte Nairn 1826-1895 (married 1844-1895)

Born in Stonesfield (near Woodstock), Oxfordshire, England. He and his family came to Australia on the ‘Protector’, arriving on the 25th of February 1830. His father died in July that year, leaving all his money for Walter in the care of a couple they met while on the ship. The couple abandoned Walter and he was on his own again. He was hired for his first job as a shepherd at the age of 16, earning 10 pounds (Stirling) a year. At 22, he started a fencing, droving and shearing business. This was after he quit his first job although his wages had increased by 30 pounds since he was hired. He started to sell his stock animals to butchers; he earned enough money from this to bring his mother and the family to Perth.

In 1844 he married the 18 year old Charlotte Nairn and they had a daughter who died at a young age. After this tragedy, they invested time and wealth into the children of employees, family members and various orphanages. His wife died in 1895 at the age of 51. In 1845 he opened butchery in Perth, which ran for 12 years. He bought the Yathroo estate in 1857. He developed a flour mill on this property. In 1863 he bought a ship and sent stock from his land on the De Grey River. In 1866 he bought a larger ship the Emma for continental trade but was lost in 1867 with the crew.
He went on to become a president of the Agricultural Society, a member of the Legislative Council, Chairman of the Chairman of the Guildford Municipal Council and Guildford’s first Mayor.