Sir Wallace Bruce
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Sir Wallace Bruce by Vandyck Studios
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Born in Kapunda on the 3rd of August 1878, to parents, John and Harriet (nee Cowie), Wallace Bruce was destined for a life in business and politics.
Bruce was educated at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, and went on to work at the Alliance Assurance Company Ltd for a decade before going on to open his own insurance business, Wallace Bruce and Co.
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| Sir Wallace Bruce as viewed by The News caricaturist Nov 1928 |
On the 11th of October 1905, Wallace married Winifred Drummond Reid at the Congregational Church, North Adelaide. Together they had four daughters and one son.
Bruce built a solid reputation and soon had clients right around Australia, as well as internationally. His business acumen and achievements saw him earn positions as Director on a number of companies, including the Adelaide Cement Co. Ltd, Clarkson Ltd, the British Automobile Finance Co. of South Australia, the South Australian Gas Co. and Holden's Motor Body Builders Ltd.
His position at Holden’s led him to travel to Los Angeles, California and to New York USA with his wife in 1935 as part of a business trip. This was followed by a voyage to the UK.
His position at Holden’s led him to travel to Los Angeles, California and to New York USA with his wife in 1935 as part of a business trip. This was followed by a voyage to the UK.
From 1925 until 1927, Wallace Bruce served as The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, this was following nine years of service as a City Councillor.
In 1927, Wallace Bruce was knighted on May 8th, given the title of Knights Bachelor, which is considered the lowest form of knighthood, as although it bestows a title, it signifies that the awardee is not in an order of chivalry. However it is viewed, it is still a significant achievement!
Sir Wallace Bruce died on the 16th of November 1944. He is buried at the North Road Cemetery
Researched and written by Allen Tiller
© 2018
Bibilography
1935 'SIR WALLACE BRUCE GOING ABROAD', The Advertiser, 21 November, p. 18. , viewed 26 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36198044
1944 'Death of Sir Wallace Bruce', News, 16 November, p. 1. , viewed 26 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129882119
1944 'Death of Sir Wallace Bruce', News, 16 November, p. 1. , viewed 26 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129882119
Eric Richards, 'Bruce, Sir Wallace (1878–1944)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bruce-sir-wallace-5402/text9151, published first in hardcopy 1979, accessed online 26 January 2018.
The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Rec
