William Ashley Magarey (30 January 1868 – 18 October 1929) was a lawyer, sportsman and sports administrator. He was the first chairman of the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) (later named

South Australian National Football League The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport. Originally formed as the ...

(SANFL)), and a

South Australian South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, 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 o ...

first-class cricket First-class cricket, along with List A cricket and Twenty20 cricket, is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket. A first-class match is one of three or more days' scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players each and is officiall ...

er, but he is best known for coming up with the idea of the

Magarey Medal The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as judged by field umpires. The award was created by Will ...

. Magarey was born in

North Adelaide North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands. History Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...

, and educated at St Peter's College and the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

, from which he graduated in 1884 to become a practising lawyer. From about 1890 he was a partner with George Murray in the law firm Murray & Magarey, a firm which continues today, after several mergers and name changes, as Finlaysons Lawyers. He became interested in football administration, and in 1897 was appointed the South Australian Football Association's inaugural chairman. Magarey, nicknamed 'Beautiful Bill', attempted to wipe out much of the rough play from the league by instituting an award which would be given to the fairest and most brilliant player each season. From the first Magarey Medal in 1898, he personally presented the award to the winners, until his death in 1929. Despite his contribution to Australian rules football, Magarey excelled most at cricket during his younger years. He appeared in a first-class cricket match for South Australia vs

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

at the

Adelaide Oval Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...

in December 1890, and he was bowled by Australian Test player

Percie Charlton Percie Chater Charlton (9 April 1867 – 30 September 1954) was an Australian cricketer who played in two Tests in England in 1890 and played first-class cricket for New South Wales from 1888 to 1897. Cricket career Charlton was regarded as an ...

for a duck in his debut innings. He was demoted to number ten in the batting order for the second innings, where he was dismissed by another Test cricketer, Sydney Callaway, for seven. New South Wales went on to win the match by six wickets.

Personal

On 5 March 1910 William Magarey married Gulielma Hack (17 October 1867 – 2 August 1951). They had no children. Gulielma, best known as Guli Hack, was a noted soprano, pianist and singing teacher associated with the

Elder Conservatorium The Elder Conservatorium of Music, also known as "The Con", is Australia's senior academy of music and is located in the centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It is named in honour of its benefactor, Sir Thomas Elder. Dating in ...

, and granddaughter of

John Barton Hack John Barton Hack (2 July 1805 – 4 October 1884) was an early settler in South Australia; a prominent farmer, businessman and public figure. He lost his fortune in the financial crisis of 1840 and despite his best efforts, never regained anything ...

. In 1901, William Magarey was enrolled in singing classes at the Elder Conservatorium; Guli Hack was his teacher.University of Adelaide Archives, Series 6, Elder Conservatorium Student Progress Reports, Folder 2. https://archives.adelaide.edu.au/#details=ecatalogue.859

References

External links

Cricinfo: William Magarey
1868 births 1929 deaths Cricketers from Adelaide Australian cricketers South Australian National Football League administrators South Australia cricketers People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide {{AFL-bio-1860s-stub