George Klewitz Soward


George Klewitz Soward was an architect and politician in South Australia.

History

Soward's father, George Soward migrated to South Australia aboard Lady Emma, arriving in October 1838. His wife Eliza Deans Soward, née Maloney and their daughter Eliza Maria Soward arrived in December 1838 aboard the same Lady Emma from Launceston; they may have broken their journey in Tasmania.
George Soward married again, on 24 June 1856 to Bertha Klewitz ; they would have one son, the subject of this article, and two daughters: Bertha in 1859 and Emma Klewitz Soward in 1862.
He married one more time, on 5 February 1873, to Eliza Deans.
Soward was born in 1857 and educated at St Peter's College. He served his articles as an architect with Thomas English MLC, then was taken on as his partner in the firm of English & Soward, then after the death of English in 1884, with his son J. W. English. He had long experience as a councillor with the Glenelg Town Council, and served as mayor from 1896 to 1898.
Soward was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Torrens from 3 May 1902 to 26 May 1905.
His architectural work, much of it in partnership with English and his son, includes a number of buildings that are now heritage-listed, including Beehive Corner.
Soward was a director of the Glenelg Railway Company and the City Permanent Building Society, and was a prominent member of the Council of the National Defence League.
His sister Eliza Maria Soward married C. A. Hornabrook on 18 March 1857.