54:, and that same year joined the gold rush for Bendigo, where he was fortunate, returning to Adelaide a wealthy man. By June 1853 he was lessee of the Port Hotel, Port Adelaide. His brother John Blackler was not so fortunate, and died on 7 September 1853 age 30 at the Bendigo diggings. Blackler took the Britannia Hotel, Port Adelaide c. 1863, which he relinquished in 1869, and brother Richard took the Port Admiral Hotel in 1860.
227:(coursing track), and closing down the "Old Course", offered to purchase the lease from Ferry and Blackler. They could not however countenance Ferry's asking price of ÂŖ5000. He had, for no obvious reasons apart from grandiosity and the desire to upstage the S.A.J.C., invested twice as much on improvements as the Council conditions had stipulated, notably on the grandstand, which was better appointed than that at
159:
216:, at a cost of ÂŖ5,000, with the intention of making it into the Gawler Racecourse, and lost no time in agitating for a Racing Club to be formed along the lines of the A.R.C. They soon had a grandstand built. This venture could be seen as a way of circumventing the limit of three meetings per year at which the totalizator could be used at the Old Course, but stymied by the
155:'s Richmond, paying for the stallion 1,000 or 1,200 guineas, and the pick of his first batch of foals. This proved a good purchase, and reinforced Blackler's reputation as a judge of horseflesh, as Richmond's progeny included some 60 winners. In 1889 Blackler purchased Thunderbolt at auction for 230 guineas, which horse proved to be the sire of another batch of champions.
260:
Blackler, J. McDonald, S. J. Whitmore. Gabriel
Bennett, and Dr. O'Connell. In December 1888 the Licensed Victuallers' Racing Club (founded June 1888) joined with the rump of the A.R.C. to form a renewed Adelaide Racing Club with an additional 250 members, with the Victuallers' committee augmented by W. Robertson, John Pile, S. R. Wilson, and R. C. Cornish.
132:, who served as their groom, and was to have a long and respected career as trainer in South Australia. He made another trip in 1876 and brought back a dozen fine brood mares, among them Instep, whose progeny won practically every major race in Australia. Countryman, sire of 1882 Melbourne Cup winner
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principle. The lottery was however under-subscribed and had to be abandoned. Blackler died shortly after catching a cold, which developed into pneumonia. He was remembered as a man with a very straightforward nature, verging on rudeness, but was esteemed for his honesty. His remains were buried at
208:
Between 1880 and April 1882 three of the lessees dropped out for various reasons, leaving only
Blackler and Ferry. Several committeemen dropped out, alarmed at the club's ballooning financial liability, leaving the committee short of the quorum necessary to appoint replacements, and the Club had to
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His first yearling sale at the Henley Beach Road property, which he dubbed "Fulham Park", was in 1880, and was held annually for many years thereafter. He soon found he could get a better price for his thoroughbreds once they had been raced: before
Richmond was raced he could not get ÂŖ300 for him,
105:. Blackler, Ferry, Bennett and Peel took out a 21-year lease from the council, and embarked on ambitious improvements, spending far more than was necessary, particularly on the grandstand, to comply with conditions of the lease. At some stage Bennett and Dr. Peel withdrew from the partnership. A
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was formed. In
November 1888 the Blacklers agreed to take over the lease and the Club's debts to Ferry, assessed as ÂŖ2,500, and brought in a new co-lessee, John Pile. A provisional committee was formed to form a new Club: J. C. Bray, M.P., J. H. Gordon, M L.C.. Messrs. E. Ward, M.P., J. Pile, W.
239:
and bisect the "Old Course". Ferry strongly disagreed, and there began the split between the two partners, which became quite bitter, at times to the point of farce. At the Globe Hotel one day, Blackler retaliated to something Ferry said by threatening to punch his face. Ferry turned to a nearby
234:
Then South
Australia entered a period of economic downturn, brought about by the drought of 1884â1886, and the racing industry suffered; the A.R.C. disproportionately so, and Blackler felt the time was ripe to cut their losses, and outlined a plan whereby the Council would resume the course and
136:, died in September 1882 while still young, and Winterlake had to be destroyed after a serious accident, two serious blows to his ambitions. Sir Edmund, sire of many champion jumpers, was only a yearling when he was brought out. Blackler sold him as a two-year-old to
248:: Blackler stormed off, fuming. What followed was a few years of low-key meetings run by Ferry â sufficient to satisfy the Council's requirements, but with modest stake money, consequently races with few starters dominated by Ferry's own stable, and poor attendance.
121:. The Council had the right, by Act of Parliament, to specify in the lease under what conditions persons could be admitted, but had failed to do so, and this was the point that brought Blackler and Ferry undone. The Council promptly issued an amended lease contract.
57:
As a young man, Blackler developed a love of steeplechase riding, taking great delight in tackling fences and water jumps. In 1868 he purchased an estate of 268 acres (108 ha), of which 202 acres (82 ha) was grassy paddocks suitable for agistment, on
286:
Catalogue of the Fulham thoroughbred colts & fillies by the imported sires
Countryman and Winterlake by order of William Blackler, Esq., third annual sale at Formby & Boase's Bazaar, Currie Street, Adelaide, Friday, May 26, 1882, at two
193:
In 1882 he instituted he "Fulham Stud Sires
Produce Stakes" for two-year-old progeny of Winterlake and Countryman, and the "Fulham Park Plate" races, for which he subscribed prizes of 100 guineas, under the auspices of the A.R.C.
39:, Devonshire, in 1827, a son of Richard Blackler (c. 1791 â 30 January 1876) and Elizabeth Blackler ( â1851) and arrived in South Australia with his parents, sisters Ellen and Amelia and brothers John and Richard aboard
317:(15 February 1827 â 26 June 1896) married Mary Harriet Walker (31 August 1842 â 29 June 1877) on 19 May 1859. Blackler may have married again, but no further information. His children included:
223:
In 1885 a consortium of businessmen led by W. Rounsevell, keen to improve the profitability of the
Morphettville course, which included adding extra facilities like a steeplechase course and a
128:
for
England, where he purchased the noted stallions Countryman, Winterlake, and Sir Edmund, and the brood mare Bridal Wreath, the foundation of his Fulham Stud. The horses were accompanied by
74:
had an adjacent property, "Lockleys", Section 145. In 1869 he imported the first pack of hounds into the Colony, purchased in
England by his brother Richard, signalling the formation of the
174:
was formed, with H. Cohen appointed secretary, and he provided rooms at "The Globe" for their activities, open 7â11pm. In September 1879 he transferred his licence to the hotel to
78:. He acted as Master of the Hounds for several years, then in 1871 after a dispute withdrew his support and at the instigation of J. A. Ellery sold the pack to a club in
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1143:
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Altruistic reasons given by Ferry for persisting with the Old Course ring hollow: pride, his gambling instinct, and an eye on the long chance are likely motives.
197:
Blackler acted as Judge on the Old Course for many years, and was on the committee and a Steward of the Adelaide Racing Club. He also acted as Judge for the
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676:
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272:, attended by a great number of mourners and well-wishers from the racing fraternity, in stark contrast to that accorded his almost exact contemporary,
251:
On 11 October 1888 a meeting of interested sportsmen held at the Globe Hotel resolved to re-form the Club once more. A steering committee consisting of
1148:
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Ellen Blackler (c. 1819 â 7 February 1914) married Henry Carwithen Ford (c. 1819 â 12 April 1885) in 1851, ran the Royal Arms Hotel, Port Adelaide
301:
Richard Blackler (c. 1791 â 30 January 1876) married to Elizabeth Blackler nÊe Parker ( â1851). He married again, to Mary Ford ( â ) in 1853
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Richard Blackler (c. 1829 â 7 February 1899) married Sarah Davies (1836 â 27 December 1885) in 1859. He ran the Port Admiral Hotel.
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In late 1882 Blackler, Ferry and William Gordon purchased "Evanston", the training ground of James Jenkins on the outskirts of
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117:, refused to pay this charge, and sued the lessees for being refused admission. Thompson won the case, tried by Mr.
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In June 1891 he attempted to sell the Fulham Park Stud and other freehold properties, valued at ÂŖ65,000, on the
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205:, and was on the Tattersalls Club Committee for some years, and was re-elected shortly before his death.
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In August 1878 Blackler became licensee of the Globe Hotel, for years a popular meeting-place in
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Ellen Elizabeth Blackler (16 June 1869 â ) married Henry Crozier (c. 1868 â ) on 27 May 1896
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66:, where he later established a horse stud dubbed Fulham Park Estate (now part of the suburb
137:
118:
90:
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331:
William Allen Blackler (1862 â 24 October 1932) married Helene Seamond ( â 1948) in 1897
175:
151:
With the death of Countryman, Blackler looked around for a replacement and settled on
101:, formed to conduct events on the Old Adelaide Racecourse, which they leased from the
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Edna Helene "Tish" Blackler (1900â1991) married Dudley Cotton Cox (1898â1956) in 1922
252:
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One of the few contemporary newspaper articles not hostile to Ferry and Blackler.
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Clarence William Blackler (1898â1982) married Doreen Sobels (1902â1987) in 1930
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596:. Vol. XI, no. 3, 250. South Australia. 5 September 1874. p. 4
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1075:. Vol. XXV, no. 2481. South Australia. 27 August 1887. p. 3
878:. Vol. XX, no. 5949. South Australia. 6 November 1888. p. 4
652:. Vol. IV, no. 196. South Australia. 13 January 1893. p. 3
428:. Vol. VI, no. 1, 885. South Australia. 1 March 1870. p. 2
170:
for the racing fraternity. A year later, at his instigation, an Adelaide
1047:. Vol. LXVI, no. 17, 147. Adelaide. 28 October 1901. p. 7
990:. Vol. LVI, no. 2, 895. Adelaide. 14 February 1914. p. 44
962:. Vol. V, no. 230. South Australia. 19 January 1894. p. 3
821:. Vol. 9, no. 2624. South Australia. 17 August 1918. p. 7
708:. Vol. VI, no. 4, 609. South Australia. 29 May 1879. p. 2
906:. Vol. XX, no. 5838. South Australia. 28 June 1888. p. 2
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624:. Vol. XXXV, no. 9949. Adelaide. 27 November 1902. p. 3
328:(1847 â 26 October 1901) on 24 August 1887; they lived in Melbourne
289:
Ferry, Moore, & Wilkinson, auctioneers, &c. (1882) Held by
324:
Harriet Amelia Blackler (1860 â 10 February 1897) married jockey
157:
540:. Vol. XLVIII, no. 11, 556. 27 November 1883. p. 4
456:. Vol. XXX, no. 8630. Adelaide. 25 July 1898. p. 3
186:. He most notable success was when his Port Admiral won the 1894
934:. Vol. LIII, no. 13, 127. 8 December 1888. p. 7
850:. Vol. LIII, no. 13, 078. 12 October 1888. p. 7
793:. No. 236. Victoria, Australia. 26 August 1885. p. 1
680:. No. 1353. South Australia. 24 September 1910. p. 4
1103:. Vol. L, no. 12, 207. 29 December 1885. p. 4
764:. Vol. XXIV, no. 1, 233. 8 April 1882. p. 14
50:
Blackler was in March 1851 barman at the Old Spot Hotel in
400:. Vol. LXI, no. 15, 484. 29 June 1896. p. 7
140:, who passed him on to Ferry, and later did stud duty for
568:. Vol. XVII, no. 837. 29 August 1874. p. 5
182:
but after his appearance on the turf he was sold for 500
23:
and sportsman in the early days of the British colony of
240:
sportsman, and gave him specific instructions as to how
82:, donating the proceeds to the Mount Gambier Hospital.
512:. Vol. XXV, no. 7674. 24 May 1883. p. 5
1018:. Vol. XX, no. 985. 7 July 1877. p. 11
235:
recompense the partners, as they were keen to extend
113:to operate on the grounds. A Melbourne bookmaker,
736:. No. 71. Melbourne. 28 June 1882. p. 1
43:in December 1839. His father started farming at
504:"Mr. J. Thompson and the Adelaide Racing Club"
93:and his son Henry Bennett, George Church, and
476:"The Bookmakers and the Adelaide Racing Club"
124:In April 1874 Blackler left by the steamship
109:was installed and bookmakers were charged 10
8:
1028:possible death by poison, self-administered.
1111:– via National Library of Australia.
1083:– via National Library of Australia.
1055:– via National Library of Australia.
1026:– via National Library of Australia.
1015:South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail
998:– via National Library of Australia.
970:– via National Library of Australia.
942:– via National Library of Australia.
914:– via National Library of Australia.
886:– via National Library of Australia.
858:– via National Library of Australia.
829:– via National Library of Australia.
801:– via National Library of Australia.
772:– via National Library of Australia.
744:– via National Library of Australia.
716:– via National Library of Australia.
688:– via National Library of Australia.
677:Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail
660:– via National Library of Australia.
632:– via National Library of Australia.
604:– via National Library of Australia.
576:– via National Library of Australia.
565:South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail
548:– via National Library of Australia.
520:– via National Library of Australia.
492:– via National Library of Australia.
464:– via National Library of Australia.
436:– via National Library of Australia.
408:– via National Library of Australia.
311:John Blackler (c. 1823 â 7 September 1853)
355:Harriet Marion Crozier (10 March 1897 â )
1139:Australian racehorse owners and breeders
85:He was a founder in December 1869, with
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308:Amelia Blackler (c. 1823 â 24 May 1844)
1144:19th-century Australian businesspeople
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162:Globe Hotel, Adelaide, demolished 1907
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728:"The Cup Top-weight and a Picked 28"
484:. Adelaide. 6 June 1883. p. 1
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1010:"Death from Disease of the Brain"
761:South Australian Weekly Chronicle
1149:Colony of South Australia people
291:State Library of South Australia
509:The South Australian Advertiser
392:"The Late Mr. William Blackler"
903:The Evening Journal (Adelaide)
875:The Evening Journal (Adelaide)
1:
672:"Mr. Jellett on Horse Racing"
560:"Mr. Blackler's Importations"
813:"Fifty Years of Racing (24)"
19:(1827 â 26 June 1896) was a
818:The Daily Herald (Adelaide)
144:at Booyoolee Station, near
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756:"The Adelaide Racing Club"
255:, M.P., J. MacDonald, and
244:should be secured for the
1100:South Australian Register
931:South Australian Register
847:South Australian Register
705:The Express and Telegraph
593:The Express and Telegraph
537:South Australian Register
481:South Australian Register
425:The Express and Telegraph
397:South Australian Register
115:Joe "Leviathan" Thompson
954:"A Little of All Sorts"
203:Onkaparinga Racing Club
532:"The Racecourse Lease"
218:Totalizator Repeal Act
199:S. A. Tattersalls Club
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270:West Terrace Cemetery
257:Samuel James Whitmore
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103:Adelaide City Council
35:Blackler was born at
1039:"Death of Tom Hales"
959:Quiz and The Lantern
842:"Adelaide Race Club"
99:Adelaide Racing Club
649:The Laura Standard
616:"Fulham Park Stud"
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76:Adelaide Hunt Club
60:Henley Beach Road
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1044:The Register
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142:H. B. Hughes
134:The Assyrian
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72:C. B. Fisher
64:The Reedbeds
56:
49:
40:
37:Newton Downs
34:
16:
15:
1134:1896 deaths
1129:1827 births
460:7 September
246:prize fight
153:Eli Jellett
107:totalizator
1123:Categories
982:"Obituary"
898:"Sporting"
870:"Sporting"
448:"Sporting"
369:References
229:Flemington
87:Seth Ferry
488:2 January
326:Tom Hales
265:art union
220:of 1883.
146:Gladstone
97:, of the
938:1 August
910:3 August
882:1 August
854:1 August
825:3 August
225:plumpton
95:Dr. Peel
68:Lockleys
41:Caroline
966:28 June
797:28 June
768:31 July
516:28 June
287:o'clock
184:guineas
111:guineas
31:History
1107:8 July
1079:8 July
1051:8 July
1022:8 July
994:8 July
740:7 July
712:6 July
684:5 July
656:8 July
628:8 July
600:7 July
572:4 July
544:7 July
432:3 July
404:3 July
297:Family
214:Gawler
52:Gawler
126:Nubia
62:near
45:Unley
1109:2017
1081:2017
1053:2017
1024:2017
996:2017
968:2017
940:2017
912:2017
884:2017
856:2017
827:2017
799:2017
770:2017
742:2017
714:2017
686:2017
658:2017
630:2017
602:2017
574:2017
546:2017
518:2017
490:2014
462:2017
434:2017
406:2017
268:the
70:).
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