Fairweather was educated at LeFevre's Peninsula Primary School and Port Adelaide High School, winning a scholarship in December 1895 which took him to Way College in 1896,[5] from which institution he gained an entrance scholarship to Adelaide University,[6] graduating BSc in 1901.
When general manager W. E. Wainwright moved to Melbourne in March 1920, Fairweather took over his responsibilities as mine superintendent.
[8] In 1932 he notoriously predicted the imminent exhaustion of the Broken Hill deposits and refused to waste shareholders' money on further exploration.
He was a faithful servant of the company, but respected by workers and the Unions for his honest dealing with the men and concern for their welfare.
[9] Fairweather served as director of He relinquished each of these positions in 1954[1] Frederick Fairweather (7 December 1826 – 27 May 1906) married Mary Abercrombie (6 July 1818 – 1899) in Ireland in 1851, emigrated to South Australia aboard Woodstock, arrived July 1851.