Notable South Australians/David Randell
David Randell,
A WELL-KNOWN and respected South Australian colonist, who died in London on October 29, 1874, in his 56th year. He arrived in this colony by the ship "Templar" in 1845, and not long after he settled in Adelaide was presented with a requisition inviting him to stand for the representation of Yatala, This he declined, and entered into agricultural and dairying pursuits at Mount Crawford, where he had purchased land from Mr. Flaxman. Subsequently he added sheep-farming and the cultivation of cereals, and bought additional valuable property on the South Rhine, where he had in time eighty acres of vines and fruit-trees. His wines commanded a ready sale, and he was awarded several medals of their excellence. Mr. Randall was a persistent advocate of Australian federation and intercolonial reciprocity. On these and kindred subjects he was never tired of writing or speaking. In advocacy of his views on free trade in natural products between the various provinces of the Australian group, he visited most of the colonies, and by letters to the press, the production of pamphlets, and interviewing leading politicians and mercantile men, sought to advance this object which was very dear to him. He was instrumental in a great degree in developing the South Australian wine trade, and sought to introduce our produce into the Home markets. On visiting England he tried to establish there a limited Liability Company, with a capital of £100,000, to purchase suitable, already-established vineyards, and engage in all the usual operations of the vigneron on an extensive scale. As manager of such a Company he hoped to return to this colony, but whilst his plans were being matured he died. One of his latest public acts was to interest himself in promoting the comfort of departing emigrants to South Australia. There is little doubt that had he lived to reach this, the land of his adoption, that the energy and perseverance he had exhibited relative to its interests would have met with substantial recognition at the hands of his fellow-colonists.