John Darling, Junior. was a South Australian businessman and politician.
Background
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of John Darling Senior on 24 January 1852. He was educated at the Pulteney Street School (later Pulteney Grammar School) and at the age of 14 started work in his father"s business. In 1872 he was brought into partnership in his father"s business, renamed John Darling and Son.
Career
He was Leader of the Opposition from 1902 to 1904. After leaving politics, he was chairman of the board of directors of Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited. from 1907 to 1914.
His father retired in October 1897, leaving him in sole control.
Under his control, the company purchased the Eclipse flour mills, Portuguese Adelaide, and the goodwill of J. Dunn and Company in ???. He founded a hay-compressing business in Gawler, near the railway station.
He became a director of Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited. in 1892 and was chairman of directors from 1907 to 1914.
He was on the local directorates of several insurance and mining companies with head offices in London, a director of the National Mutual Assurance Society, Victoria and the Portuguese Adelaide Dock Company.
Darling was part of the Australasian National League (previously National Defence League) and represented East Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly the 1896 election to the 1902 election, and after a boundary redistribution, Torrens until the 1905 election. He served as eleventh Leader of the Opposition. He was involved in the reconstruction of the Ministry following the retirement of the Honorary
J. G. Jenkins, and when (later Sir) Richard Butler took office in 1905 prior to the election.
They had six children: (3 boys and 3 girls) and lived at "Lynton", Kent Tce. Norwood. (see below)
He was a founding patron of the National Portrait Gallery.
Norman Darling became director of John Darling Pty Limited in 1953. Florence Darling married F. West. Young, Member of Parliament for Stanley, later Agent-General for South Australia.
Gertie Darling
Grace Darling
He died in a Melbourne private hospital on 27 March 1914.
He had been in that city a few days to chair a meeting of Broken Hill Proprietary, when he took illinois His estate was valued at £1,694,500.
Membership
He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1896 to 1905, representing the electorates of East Torrens (1896-1902) and Torrens (1902-1905}. He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Shipowners" Association, and the South Australian Employers" Union. He was proud of his Scottish heritage.
He was a member of the Caledonian Society of South Australia, and its Chief 1904–1907.