The widower John Mitcham Hornabrook of Egloskerry, Cornwall, with his children Ann Greenfield Hornabrook and Charles Atkins Hornabrook arrived in South Australia in December 1838 aboard Glenalvon. In December 1849 John Hornabrook applied for the publican's licence for the York Hotel, a modest family hotel at the south-east corner of Rundle and Pulteney streets, previously held by its founder Jane Bathgate. He was successful, but only on the casting vote of the chairman. In 1854 the licence was transferred to John Bray, previously landlord of the "Grace Darling" and "Glenelg Hotel", and most likely John Hornabrook's brother-in-law. John Hornabrook married Sarah née Shephard, whose sister Anna Shephard married one John Bray, date and location as yet unknown and died before her. There are three John Brays known in South Australia at the time, one being John Cox Bray, another a miner in Moonta. The third John Bray, who arrived aboard Hartley in October 1837 and died at residence, Pulteney Street is a likely candidate. The fact of his daughter Alice marrying someone of a similar name may be entirely coincidental. Bray was not an uncommon surname in 1850s South Australia.
History
C. A. Hornabrook first became interested in Rundle Street in 1851, when he leased Town acre 39 from Samuel George Smith, of the London banking firm of Smith, Payne & Smiths, then sublet it for building. In 1857 he applied, successfully, for the licence for the York Hotel previously held by his father then by John Bray. That same year he married Eliza Maria Soward, sister of architect George Klewitz Soward. In 1863 the first major improvement was commissioned: a separate building adjacent on Rundle Street with seven bedrooms with balconies projecting over the footpath, and a bathroom. Soward was the architect and Charles Farr the builder. In 1867 he purchased a property between Third and Fourth creeks near Magill, previously owned by Dr David Wark, but apparently not Wark's residence "Alton", which was owned by Daniel Chappell between 1862 and 1876. In 1868 he had Charles Farr pull down the old portion of the York Hotel, and in its place build a new "pile" designed by Daniel Garlick. George Scarfe, the man largely responsible for the preeminence of Harris, Scarfe & Co., was a longtime resident. In 1878 substantial additions were made by Woods & McMinn, notably the addition of two billiard rooms and a row of shops. W. E. Ford was the new licensee, but Hornabrook retained ownership until 1900, when he sold it for £28,000 by the Melbourne firm of Foy & Gibson. In 1874 he commissioned Farr to build the imposing residence "Dunheved House" later "Kalymna", which still stands at 28 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town. A large collection of their furnishings and household goods was sold by auction in 1879 prior to leaving, with their six youngest children, on a trip to England by the clipper Hesperus, sharing the saloon with the Rischbieth family. Hornabrook returned alone in April 1882 on the steamer Cuzco, staying at "Landrowna Terrace", Victoria Square, resigned his directorship of several companies including Grove Hill Gold Mining Company. In 1887 he offered some £30,000 worth of shares at auction in a slow market. He then became, with J. M. Wendt and a few others, a major shareholder in the Baker's Creek gold mine at Hillgrove, New South Wales. In 1891 he had a new residence built at the south corner of East Terrace and Gilles Street, designed by George Klewitz Soward, naming it "Eöthen". In 1928 it became the home of Sir Lavington Bonython and his family, renamed "St Corantyn".
Recognition
It has been asserted that Charles Street was named for him.
He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1887. and served as magistrate on many prominent prosecutions.
He was in 1891 elected a patron of the Medindie Football Club.
Family
John Mitcham Hornabrook, whose first wife Margaret Hornabrook née Atkins, died 18 February 1837, arrived with his two children in South Australia in December 1838 aboard Glenalvon. He married the widow Sarah Attwood, née Shephard on 23 November 1847. Her daughter Annie Attwood drowned at Glenelg. Sarah's mother, Ann Shephard, died at their home on Rundle Street. After the death of her husband, Sarah and their three children, Lilla and twins Joseph and Alice made an extended visit to England, returning aboard Yatala in 1866. The widow Sarah Hornabrook was living at "York Villa", Mitcham in 1873, South Terrace, Adelaide in 1876, died at "Eothen", East Terrace.
Ann Greenfield Hornabrook returned to England, where she married John Martin ; the couple returned to SA August 1850 aboard Bengal. Her brother Charles returned on the same ship, presumedly having attended the wedding.
Charles Atkins Hornabrook JP married Eliza Maria Soward on 18 March 1857. Eliza was a daughter of George Soward and the elder sister of architect George Klewitz Soward, who designed their residence.
John Mitcham Hornabrook married the widow Sarah Attwood, née Shephard on 23 November 1847. They had three children together:
Lilla Hornabrook married surgeon John Fisher on 9 January 1868. They had two sons and a daughter.
Joseph Alfred Hornabrook married Alice Page on 16 September 1873. Partner Rees & Hornabrook, architects. They had two surviving daughters.
