Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/577

ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 55' The late Mr. Robert Stuckey SOUTH AUSTRALIA was but two years old when the late Mr. Robert Stuckey cast in his lot in the good cause of colonisation. He was spared to live many years, and saw the Province take immense strides. To Mr. Stuckey fell a share of the vicissitudes inseparable from pioneering- work. He was born at Muchelney Abbey, a famous old building in Somersetshire, on September 9, 1812. When he was five years old his father died, and Mr. Stuckey was taken in hand by an uncle until he had reached years of maturity. He married in 1839, and immediately set out for South Australia, where he arrived in December of that year. His brother, Mr. John Stuckey, had preceded him, so that he was not altogether a stranger in a strange land. Mr. Stuckey took up his residence in Gilbert Street, and, deciding to embark in active business pursuits, opened a shop in Rundle .Street as a grocer and draper combined. For nine years he was in business in Rundle Street, and his venture was a financial success. He sold out to Messrs. Parkin, Chinner, Martin, and Bakewell. After leaving Rundle Street, which upon his advent he described as a " succession of mudholes in which bullocks were frequently bogged," Mr. Stuckey entered into partnership with Mr. P. D. Prankerd in land speculation. Mr. Prankerd retired in 1872, and went to Plngland, but Mr. Stuckey continued in the same business until his last illne.ss, the executors of the estate being Dr. W. M. Campbell and Messrs. J. J. and M. Stuckey. In his land investments Mr. Stuckey rendered considerable help to struggling farmers. He enabled them to occupy and develop the land at a small deposit, and eventually to become the proprietors of it. Until 1858 Mr. Stuckey lived in Gilbert Street; after which he purchased a very fine property on Montefiore Hill, adjoining the residence of the Chief Justice, the Adelaide Photo Co.