Arthur Searcy
President of the Public Service, Deputy Commissioner of Taxes and Stamps and President of the Marine Board in South Australia
Arthur Searcy (6 January 1852 near Mount Barker, South Australia – 9 December 1935 in Harrow Road, St Peters, South Australia) was President of the Public Service, Deputy Commissioner of Taxes and Stamps and President of the Marine Board in South Australia.
Life and career
Arthur Searcy was a son of William Searcy and his wife Charlotte Edwin née Roffe. His parents, and uncle Frederick Searcy, had arrived at Port Adelaide on 3 September 1849, on the ship Louisa Baillie . William Searcy was Chief Inspector of Police in South Australia.
Arthur Searcy went to Pulteney Street School in Adelaide and was also educated by Dr. Sweatman in Port Lincoln.
He married Emily Louisa Payne (1855–1932), on 2 December 1871 at the residence of J. Kither of Norwood.
His first employment was by the legal firm of Stow & Bruce and later in the office of Brown & Thompson. Like his younger brother Alfred, he joined the Customs Department as a temporary hand, but his position was soon made permanent. His career developed as follows:
Boarding Officer for Customs, 1873
Clerk Customs, 1874
Clerk Audit office, 1875
Clerk Customs, 1876
Tide Inspector and measurer of ships, Customs, 1889
Corresponding Clerk Customs and Sea Marine Board, 1890
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Taxes and Stamps, 1891
Customs and Marine Board in 1894
Clerk Assistant and Sergeant at Arms, House of Assembly, 1895
Deputy Commissioner of Taxes and Stamps, 1897
Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, 1901
Press Marine and Board, 1902
Inspector of kerosene, 1902
Commissioner of Trade Marks and Registrar of Copyrights, 1904
Controller of the Outer Harbour at Port Adelaide, 1907
Controller of Ocean Steamers Wharf, 1909
Chief Inspector under Inflammable Oils Act, 1909
Superintendent of Life Saving Service, 1909
Controller of Harbours and Chairman of Harbours Board Committee, 1911
Retirement, 1917
Arthur Searcy created the scheme for the acquisition of wharfs and harbours by the government, and all of the wharfs were taken over under his guidance.
“Arthur Searcy” enters the record as president of the Public Service, Deputy Commissioner of Taxes and Stamps and President of the Marine Board in South Australia. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Arthur, Searcy and President can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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