ALDRIDGE, JAMES HENRY (1849-1925), publican and horse-racing identity, was born on 4 July 1849 at Kensington, Adelaide, second of nine children of English-born George Aldridge, storekeeper and publican, and his wife Sara Jane, nee Brown. James received his education at St. Peter’s College. Directly on leaving school, James became a member of the survey party in the Northern Territory conducted by Mr. G.W. Goyder (then Surveyor-General). He stayed with the group for 18 months before returning to Adelaide. He then joined the Telegraph Department and left Adelaide to re-pole Roper River. At the end of the work he purchased some fat bullocks with a Mr. Batten which they drove to Pine and Sandy Creek, making a substantial profit. In 1879, James bought the Globe Hotel in Rundle St. The hotel was the haunt of sportsmen and the venue for the Tattersall’s Club meetings. He began racing horses and became a riding member of the Adelaide Hunt Club. He married Sarah Carr in 1880 and they had eight children. His horse racing ventures continued to thrive as did his family. In 1883, his horse Sardius won the Caulfield Guineas. In September, 1888, James left the Globe Hotel. For a short time he managed a horse stud at Lockleys. Before long James was off to the new town of Barrier (Broken Hill) to look for silver and lead. However, at the end of 1888, he built Aldridge’s Grand Hotel in Argent St. This profitable business allowed James to purchase land out of the town to build his family a home as well as purchase a property in Richmond, Adelaide. He raced horses at unregistered meetings. In 1889, James bought Richmond Park from Mr. John Chambers. The property was approximately 296 acres between Glenelg and Brighton roads. His standing in the community increased and on 27 December, 1893, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. In the mid-1890s James went to Sydney, and bought the stallion “Carlyon” for 1000 guineas as well as some brood mares. In 1899, James moved to Adelaide with his family to concentrate on his horses and to take over the Gresham Hotel, King William St. In 1905, James bought the English stallion “Pistol” out of “Carbine” for 1250 pounds. Another good sire was “St Anton”. The success of his three stallions’ progeny gave James Aldridge notoriety around Australia and the Commonwealth. He raced his horses under the cardinal and black colours. He was a member of the chief racing clubs in Adelaide and a committeeman of the Tattersall’s Club. His association with the Adelaide Hunt Club continued. The residence at Richmond burnt down in 1907. All stud records, racing illustrations, turf trophies and numerous family documents were destroyed. The family lived at the Gresham Hotel while their home was rebuilt. The following year, the family moved back to Richmond and James cut his ties with the Gresham to concentrate on horse racing and breeding. Survived by six children, he died on 11 November 1925 at home after a long illness. He was buried with Anglican rites at St. Judes, Brighton. Bibliography Primary The Barrier Miner , 12/11/1925 The Chronicle , 16/7/1904, 14/11/1925 The Register , 12/11/1925 The Advertiser , 13/11/1925 Sands & McDougall Ltd. Sands & McDougall’s South Australian Directory (Adelaide) South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society. Biographical Index of SA 1836-1885 Vol. I (Marsden, 1986) State Records. Appointments – Justice of the Peace George Aldridge (Local History collection. Burnside Library) St. Peter’s College (School Register and class list) Unpublished Thorpe, C.W. [notes] (West Torrens Historical Society) Secondary Barrier Daily Truth , Broken Hill Centenary 1883-1893 (Broken Hill n.d.) Burgess, H.T. The Cyclopedia of South Australia (Adelaide, 1986) Donovan, P. Between the City and the Sea (Adelaide, 1978) Hoad, J.L. Hotels and Publicans in South Australia 1836-1984 (Adelaide, 1986) (Source of article not noted) From information supplied by the West Torrens Historical Society .