George SHENTON

SHENTON, GEORGE (SIR) (b. Perth, WA, 6 Dec 1840; d. Perth, WA, 20 June 1909). Wesleyan businessman and politician.

Young George Shenton carried on the excellent reputation of his pioneer father George Shenton (q.v.) and became even more notable in the life of the growing colony. He served for many years as a member of the Legislative Council and at one time was the Speaker. In 1880 he became the first mayor of Perth and was later knighted for his services to the community. Sir George formed a company called Shenton Elder & Co which later became Elder Smith & Co.

Like his father before him, Sir George was totally committed to the Methodist Church. Upon his father's unexpected death he took upon himself the business and financial responsibility for the building of the new church on the corner of William and Hay Streets. He honoured his father's promise by donating £1000 to Wesley Church Building Fund. He saw too that his father's wish that the new church be called Wesley Church was fulfilled. Later, in 1875, he ordered and donated to the church the first pipe organ in the colony and later still, in 1909, just prior to his death, he donated a second and larger pipe organ to Wesley Church, which is still in regular use. Another gift of the Shenton family was the magnificent stained-glass memorial window in the chancel of Wesley Church.

Sir George Shenton and his family were faithful members of the church and it is on record that at the stroke of 10.45 by the Town Hall clock on Sunday mornings, he and his wife, leading all the members of their considerable family and followed up in the rear by their servants, could be seen stepping towards Wesley Church almost in procession. They always sat in the three front pews, Sir George and Lady Shenton in the centre of the front pew, the family in the second pew and the servants in the third. At the conclusion of the service they retired in the same manner and order as they had entered.

Ronald E Turner, Foundations Not Made With Hands (Perth, 1984); Wesley Lutton, The Wesley Story (Perth, 1970); Australian Journal of Pharmacy (August, 1968); The Shenton Papers (Battye Library, Perth); Register of Baptism; (Wesley Church Archives, Perth)

JAMES H CAIN