Matthew Henry Madge (c. 1838 – 1 March 1916) was a politician in the colony of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. He was born in

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

and emigrated to South Australia with his parents in 1854. His father, John Madge, opened a bakery on Robe Terrace, North Adelaide, and in 1858 transferred his business to The Parade, Norwood, taking over the premises of Charles Springet. The following year he was forced to declare insolvency. In 1860 Matthew Henry opened a bakery in Moonta Street, off Gouger Street and prospered. In 1881 he retired from commercial life, leaving the business with his eldest son, E. A. H. Madge. (A. E. H Madge?) He was a longtime councillor and alderman of the

Adelaide City Council The City of Adelaide, also known as the Corporation of the City of Adelaide and Adelaide City Council is a local government area in the metropolitan area of greater Adelaide, South Australia and is legally defined as the capital city of Sout ...

for various periods from 1870, when he was elected for Grey ward. He was member of the

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible governme ...

for

Wallaroo Wallaroo is a common name for several species of moderately large macropods, intermediate in size between the kangaroos and the wallabies. The word "wallaroo" is from the Dharug ''walaru'', and not a portmanteau of the words "kangaroo" and "wal ...

from February 1875 to May 1875, when he was unseated by petition, having been found guilty of soliciting votes, by personally asking voters for their vote and support. Sir Robert Ross filled the vacancy. He was active in the Temperance cause, a

Rechabite The Rechabites () are a biblical clan, the descendants of Rechab through Jehonadab. Biblical sources The Rechabites belonged to the Kenites, who accompanied the Israelites into the Holy Land and dwelt among them. The main body of the Kenites dwel ...

and a member of the

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

church in Halifax Street. He was an active supporter of the

Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and Australia's largest provider of services for people with blindness and low vision. Background Vision Australia was created in 2004 through the merger of 4 smaller blindness organisations: t ...

, and Hon. treasurer of the Point McLeay Aboriginal Mission.

Family

He married Emily (c. March 1838 – 19 September 1915) c. 1858; they had four sons: *E. A. H. Madge of Gouger Street *M. H. H. Madge of South Terrace *A. W. J. Madge of Melbourne *A. L. J. Madge of Brisbane

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madge, Matthew Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Australian food industry businesspeople Australian temperance activists 1830s births 1916 deaths 19th-century Australian businesspeople