Alfred Watts (South Australian politician)

Alfred Watts (1815 – 29 November 1884) was a businessman and politician in the early days of the colony of South Australia.

He formed a partnership Watts & Wells with his nephew Percy Wells (1825–1909) as importers and exporters;[1] they became interested in marine infrastructure; In 1869 they promoted ambitious plans for an Outer Harbour to allow the berthing of ships of deeper draught than possible in Port Adelaide, despite extensive (and expensive) dredging.

[2] It was proposed by a group of London speculators, who offered to finance it totally in exchange for monopoly use of the facility.

[3] He was appointed to several committees and commissions, where his financial expertise proved valuable, but with advancing years his intellect deteriorated and he no longer appeared in public.

He died after a long illness and was buried in the grounds of Clayton Congregational Church, Kensington.