| Walter Duffield | |
| Alongside2: | Six people |
| Predecessor2: | New district |
| Birth Place: | Great Baddow, Essex, England |
| Occupation: | Pastoralist |
Walter Duffield (1816 – 5 November 1882) was a pastoralist and politician in colonial South Australia, Treasurer of South Australia 1865 to 1867.
Duffield was born in Great Baddow, Essex, England, son of William Duffield, a farmer; the solicitor William Ward Duffield was a brother. Walter arrived in South Australia in the William Barras in December 1839. His first occupation was as manager for fellow-passenger Jacob Hagen's estate at Echunga, where his wine was some of the first produced in the colony.[1] He left Echunga to build up the Para Para estate, near Gawler, and produced hams, wines and orchard fruit; he later had 40,000 Merino sheep.
He started business in Gawler as a flour miller ("The Victoria Steam Flour Mill", founded by Stephen King JP) and merchant in September 1847,[2] and, in conjunction with Harrold Brothers as Duffield, Harrold and Company (later Duffield, Harrold and Hurd), owned Weinteriga and Outalpa stations.[3]
Duffield was member for Barossa in the South Australian House of Assembly from 9 March 1857 to 6 April 1868 and from 14 April 1870 to 13 December 1871,[4] and was Treasurer in the John Hart Government from 23 October 1865 to March 1866, and in the Ministry of James Boucaut, which succeeded it, from the latter date till 3 May 1867.[4] Duffield subsequently sat in the South Australian Legislative Council from 3 April 1873 to 27 May 1879, when every four years one third of the Legislative Council was elected by the whole colony as one electorate "The Province".[4]
Duffield died in Gawler on 5 November 1882 and was buried in Willaston General Cemetery.
Walter Duffield married Phoebe Johnstone (c. 1814 – 15 May 1890) on 7 March 1842; their children were:
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