Peter Miller was born on the Orkney Island of Stronsay, Scotland on 14 February 1821 to parents William Miller and Janet Miller nee Miller. As a young man Peter worked on Housebay Farm. Although the island is only five miles long and three miles wide, the farm contained 1200 acres. The farm hands had the right to engage in the herring fishing industry during the herring season.
Peter married Janet Chalmers on 23 November 1843. Janet was born on 17 June 1821 to parents James and Baikie Chalmers nee Reid. As opportunity for the young couple was rather limited on the small island with its population of 1300, in 1851 they decided to immigrate to South Australia with their three children; Peter 7 (born 1844), James Fotheringham 5 (1846) and William 1 (1850). A list of all children in the family is here.
They were due to sail from Plymouth England on the ship “Adelaide” on 8 November 1851 accompanied by Janet’s sister Betsy Sinclair nee Chalmers aged 19, together with her husband Peter Sinclair. Also on the ship were Peter Sinclair’s parents James & Jane Sinclair and his sister Eliza Miller nee Sinclair & her husband William and their daughter Jane Miller. Due to an outbreak of measles, the Peter Miller family had to disembark and join the next ship bound for South Australia whilst the Sinclair family remained on the “Adelaide”.
They joined the ship, the Amazon which left Plymouth on the 26 November 1851. On board the “Amazon”were 286 emigrants. An extract from the Sydney Shipping Gazette stated that there had been seventeen deaths on the voyage out to Australia, sixteen of them children due to measles and whooping cough outbreaks. There were also five births on board the Amazon including Peter and Janet’s fourth child , a daughter, on 7 December 1851 who they named Janet Amazon Miller. They arrived at Port Adelaide on the 20 February 1852 and travelled by bullock dray to spend their first night ashore at the OG Hotel, then kept by a Mr Bayfield.
Peter was engaged by David Randall as overseer for his Glen Para property at Mt Crawford (now known as Corryton Park). They found the place wild bush country, as when they arrived there were no gardens and no cultivation. During the first winter, there were 600 Aborigines’ camped at the back of the house. They never caused any trouble as it is said; Janet always treated them with kindness and respect.
Peter helped with the establishment of the vineyard at Glen Para beginning in 1855. He liked the land that he saw at South Rhine east of Springton and in 1857 purchased Sections 112, 113 and 119 in the Hundred of South Rhine, (now known as the Hundred of Jutland.). Between 1858 -1860 Peter also established another vineyard on section 99 in the Hundred of South Rhine for David Randall.
Peter and Betsy Sinclair also worked for David Randall commencing work in late 1852 managing his Springfield Dairy.
In 1860 Peter Miller left his employment with David Randall and settled on his own land, naming the property Braeside.He saw the potential for a good dairy herd. In 1861 he added to the property by purchasing Sections 105 and 114. By now his family had grown to 7. John (1854), Rebecca (1856), and Edward George (1859), having been born since their arrival in the new country, with Thomas and Frances “Fanny” (1861, twins) and later David (1865) being born at Braeside, bringing the number of children to ten.
Cheese and bacon were produced on the farm at South Rhine and taken to Adelaide for sale, from where they purchased stores and provisions for the farm. This was also their only opportunity to obtain all of the requirements for their large family.
By 1864 there was the need for a school to be built for the local children and Peter Miller gave the land beside the One Tree Creek, being part of Section 105. The school was opened on the 19 November 1864. This building was also used as a place of worship until the Church was completed and opened in August 1882. The significance of the Millers in giving land for the school and Church is recognised in the principal stain glass window of the church being dedicated to Peter and Janet Miller.
The children of South Rhine School were extremely musical and performed at local concerts and regular church services.
An extract from the Chronicle 17 December 1867.
At 12 noon today, a fire broke out by or in Mr. Abraham Bowden’s crop which had not been reaped, and travelled into Mr. Miller’s grass paddock and on to his homestead, consuming house, barn, stables, harness, stacks of hay and pigs.
Great exertions were required to keep the fire from the school, situated on a portion of Mr. Miller’s land, and from his wheat, the brush fence being all consumed. During the night, the wind blew in heavy squalls, rendering the smouldering fire very dangerous. Mr. Bowden’s crop was nearly all consumed, a few patches only being left, sufficient, perhaps, for seed and flour for the coming season. Other fires were visible. It seemed as if fires were all around us. No inquest was held, the Mt Pleasant police being in Adelaide.
Neighbours of Peter and Janet Miller, in true neighbourly fashion, were quick to help them rebuild their home. The stone walls were in good order on which to rebuild the roof remembering that it was a thatched roof which burnt very easily.
Peter was a Councillor for the South Rhine District Council 1866, 1874-1875, & 1880. He was very involved in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church being an elder and member of the Assembly. He was also involved in the Mt Pleasant Agricultural Society. There is reference in the Register in January 1863, of Peter Miller being a judge at the first reaping match held in the field of Mr. Thyer. Peter also won a ploughman competition on 4 September 1869 with the prize money being ₤4-0-0.
Thomas, eighth child of Peter and Janet Miller was born on the 10 August 1861 at Braeside, the twin brother of Frances and died on the 10 June 1873 at South Rhine at the age of 11yrs and 10 months from typhoid fever, being the only one of the children to predecease their parents.
Thomas was the first of the Miller family to be buried in the cemetery established by the Shearer family following the death of their matriarch, Frances Shearer on 3 November 1867 and subsequently called The South Rhine Cemetery.
Peter Miller Snr. died on 26 July 1906 at the age of 85½ years. Janet was soon to follow him and passed away on 5 January 1908 aged 86 years. She was buried alongside her husband and their son Thomas in the South Rhine Cemetery. They had been married for nearly 63 years. (Peter Miller Snr.’s father, William died at the age of 105 years on Stronsay.)
An extract from the paper at the time of Janet’s death describes her as:
a women who spent her life for her family, and it was her pride that no-one had ever been turned away from her door. No swagman was refused food or shelter, but wherever she could help a fellow creature in want, that aid was cheerfully given. Until past her 70th year, she worked hard in all the avocations suitable to her sex connected with the farm or dairy, and she was a true helpmeet in every way to her husband. Mrs. Miller was one of the earliest members of the Mount Crawford Presbyterian Church, and took an active part in the establishment of the Presbyterian churches at Mount Pleasant and South Rhine, the latter of which she was a member to the day of her death.
Shortly after the death of his father, John died on 11 December 1906 aged 52 years.
Rebecca, Fanny and David, all of whom never married continued to live at Braeside. David died on 22 April 1919 aged 54 years, Rebecca died 19 September 1933 aged 77 years and Fanny died on 7 July 1943 aged 81 years and 11 months.
