SAMUEL WAY
Samuel James Way migrated from England to South Australia in 1853 as a 17 year old. This was just 16 years after the commencement of the colony. Within two decades he had become the pre-eminent citizen. He was the Chief Justice and Supreme Court judge for forty years and Lieutenant-Governor for a total of seven years. He was a Queens Councillor, member of parliament, vice-chancellor and chancellor of the university and president of the children’s hospital, public library, museum and art gallery. He was a leader in the Methodist church and the Freemasons. He was a Privy Counsellor. He was knighted and was conferred five honorary doctorates. Many places are named after him. Without doubt, for half a century, he was at the pinnacle of most aspects of civic life - law, academia, vice-regal, politics, health, religion and culture. He was the public face of justice, reason, virtue and refinement. Right up to the time of his death as an 80 year old, he was still active in all these high offices.

SUSANNAH GOODING
Susannah Mary Gooding was Samuel’s mistress for two decades. She had a disreputable background. Her grandparents and mother had been convicts and her father was gaoled for accidently killing her mother in a domestic incident. Susannah was a servant living in Tasmania when she met Samuel. They never married, nor ever lived together, and their relationship was not publicly acknowledged. However they had five children and Samuel continued to visit the family often and supported them with housing and education expenses (Geelong Grammar), and helped Susannah set up a millinery business. After Susannah’s death, he maintained some contact with the surviving children. Three of the children died early but two of their sons, Alfred White and Edward White, became prominent in Melbourne as respected physicians, and were noted for their war service and philanthropy. Like his father, Alfred, was knighted, as Sir Rowden White.

KITTY GORDON
Catherine ‘Kitty’ Gillon Gordon came from Scotland with her parents in 1855 as an infant. Before migrating her father had been a railway worker and he became a moderately successful farmer in the Strathalbyn district. Kitty was adopted by her aunty, Catherine Gollan. At 18 years of age she married a local doctor, Billy Blue, who became the mayor of Strathalbyn. After 24 years of marriage, Billy died and Kitty soon married Samuel – this was a decade after Susannah had died. As Lady Way, Kitty became prominent in Adelaide society and was appreciated by the general public for her many services to the community. She was with Sir Samuel for 16 years until her death. Crowds lined the streets for what was virtually a state funeral. Her direct descendants are from just one of her four children (Samuel and Sussanah also have direct descendants from just one of their five children).