ADAMS, William Anderson (1846-1930)
Born on 4 September 1846, second son of Robert Adams and Jane nee Anderson, William Anderson Adams is alleged to have entered Geelong College in 1863. There is however no enrolment register for the 1860s and his attendance is based on subsequent reporting.
According to Geelong Grammarians, 'He attended GGS 1858-59 as a boarder, and was a great chum' of W W Hassall. He attended Scotch College in 1861, and The Geelong College from 1863. After leaving school , he held 6500 acres at Mountain Creek with his brother, and was elected to the Melbourne Club in 1873.'
In May 1930, Pegasus reported his death:
'William Anderson Adams (1864) passed away in April, at Camden, where he had resided with his daughter for some years. He was a son of the late Mr Robert Adams of St Enoch's Station, Skipton, and for may years after leaving the school he carried on pastoral pursuits at Mountain Creek Station (Moonambel), near Avoca. By his kindly disposition and open hospitality, William was greatly loved by all with whom he came in contact and throughout the Avoca District. In his early days there were few better amateur cross-country riders in Victoria, when he won many steeplechase trophies. To his surviving daughters and sons, Dal and Robert, we extend our heartfelt sympathy.'
His brothers, Robert Hopkins Adams, John Dalrymple Adams, Thomas Hill Adams, and Harry Adams are all likely to have been educated at Geelong College.
Sources: The Australasian (Melb) 3 May 1911 p11; Sydney Morning Herald 21 May 1930 p8; Pegasus May 1930 pp45-46; Geelong Grammarians 1856-1913 p60.