[2] His parents, and uncle Frederick Searcy, had arrived at Port Adelaide on 3 September 1849, on the ship Louisa Baillie .

Arthur Searcy went to Pulteney Street School in Adelaide and was also educated by Dr. Sweatman in Port Lincoln.

Like his younger brother Alfred, he joined the Customs Department as a temporary hand, but his position was soon made permanent.

He attended for instance together with the Governor of South Australia the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on 26 June 1902, the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on 24 May 1911, a memorial service for King Edward VII on 20 May 1910; the Mayor Easter Excursion on the River Murray on 5 April 1897; the official opening of the Electric Tramways system in Port Adelaide, during which he rode in the first car together with the Mayor J. Sweeney and members of the City Council.

[4] Upon his death he donated the Searcy Collection to the State Library of South Australia, containing three metres of scrapbooks (1892–1923), which include newspaper cuttings, obituaries and reminiscences etc.