John Harvey

The founder of Salisbury

John Harvey was born in 1820 in Caithness in Scotland and immigrated to South Australia in 1839. He became involved in several occupations, including farming, a publican, and delivering goods by horse and cart.

In 1847 John bought land in the Hundred of Yatala. After careful thought he decided to use section 2191 as the beginning of a settlement, which he named Salisbury as his wife Ann (nee Pitman) had come from near the city of Salisbury in England. The streets in the centre of Salisbury were named after himself and his family. The first lots of land went on sale in June 1848. John actively promoted Salisbury and the surrounding district and was prominent in the daily life of Salisbury as a Justice of the Peace, a Magistrate and a Member of Parliament. His interests ranged from general farming to experimental farming, and he was one of the first to try growing grapes north of Adelaide. Horses and horse racing were a passion for John not only as a spectator but as a jockey and he won many prizes. On his death in 1899 a friend said "He was one of the most valuable pioneers the Colony had, and a thorough gentleman in every aspect."