William Finlayson

William Finlayson (1813 – 18 December 1897) was a churchman and farmer in the early days of South Australia, and father of nine children including two sons prominent in the early days of that colony. Life Born in Glasgow, he and his wife, née Helen Harvey (born Edinburgh 1811 – 20 October 1884), arrived at Holdfast Bay on the John Renwick around 7 February 1837, just seven weeks after Governor Hindmarsh. as missionaries with the Baptist Missionary Society of England. Somehow his missionary ambitions failed to materialise. He found employment with the South Australian Company, keeping sheep at Brown Hill Creek with Samuel Sleep. He leased a nearby property of 164 acres from the South Australian Company, which he farmed while living in a cottage in Adelaide. By 1853 he had built a substantial residence "Helenholm" (frequently "Helenholme"), named for his wife, and in 1855 converted his land title to freehold. He was a member of Robert Cock's 1837 exploration party that climbed Mount Barker and reached Lake Alexandrina. They were fearful of encountering the warlike Peramangk and Kaurna inhabitants, but never saw one, though no doubt their progress was being closely observed.