Alfred von Doussa

Heinrich Albert Alfred Von Doussa (27 April 1848 – 1 August 1926) was an Australian businessman and politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1901 to 1921, representing Southern District.

History

Von Doussa was born in Adelaide the son of (Emil Louis) Alfred von Doussa (ca.1809 – 17 December 1882), an officer of the Prussian army, who emigrated to South Australia in 1846 with his wife Anna Dorothea von Doussa, née Schach. He was educated at T. W. Boehm's German School in Hahndorf and St. Peter's College. He and his father travelled to Otago, New Zealand at the time of the gold rush. On returning to South Australia he studied chemistry, and in 1868 was partner (with Carl Friedrich Gunther) in the Rundle Street pharmacy of Gunther and von Doussa. The partnership was dissolved in October 1869.

Politics

He was elected to represent the Southern district in the South Australian Legislative Council in 1901, and was re-elected on several occasions. In August 1920, the Liberal Union refused to accept von Doussa's nomination for preselection for the 1921 state election when he refused to sign a pledge stating that he would not contest the election if he were unsuccessful in obtaining Liberal preselection. He subsequently contested the election as an independent, but was unsuccessful.

Other interests

He was a founder, and for nearly 50 years secretary of the Onkaparinga Racing Club, which runs the Oakbank races every Easter. He was founder and for around 55 years Secretary or District Clerk of the Echunga District Council, (the longest period of any district clerk in the State), and secretary of the Mount Barker Agricultural Society for 20 years. He was an ardent Freemason, a member of the Prince of Wales Lodge at Mount Barker. He was a crack shot with a rifle, and member of the Hahndorf Rifle Club, and its "King" in 1879 and 1880. He was a keen cricketer, and for many years captained the Mount Barker Cricket Club. He held shares in several Western Australian gold-mines and was chairman of directors of Mount Benson Goldmining Co.

He died at his home "Detmold", Hahndorf (at that time renamed Ambleside).

Recognition

The Von Doussa Steeplechase, conducted every Easter Monday at Oakbank, was named in his honour.

Family

Alfred von Doussa (ca.1848 – 1 August 1926) married Helena Theresa Doudy of Gawler on 5 October 1885

• Alice von Doussa (6 January 1890 – 19 Jun 1927) married Leslie Cowan of Erindale on 28 February 1911
• Dorothea von Doussa (7 November 1892 – ) married Dr. Hubert M. Jay of Burnside on 14 November 1914
• Louis A. von Doussa (6 August 1894 – ) married Gwendoline Kathleen Hyman on 16 February 1926

(Charles) Louis von Doussa (17 May 1850 – 27 May 1932), lawyer and politician, was a brother.