Later that year he joined the South Australian Register, with whom he was employed for about 20 years, initially in their Port Adelaide office, then progressed through the ranks as commercial and financial editor and chief of the reporting staff,[2] and agricultural editor of The Observer (where he sometimes wrote under the pseudonym "Wuronga"), and contributed leading articles to both papers.

[3] He was invited to accompany Clement Giles on his expedition to central Australia, riding 1,500 miles (2,400 km) on horseback.

In parliament Gordon was a vocal supporter of the development of South and central Australia and was a member of the Royal Commission on the fruit industry.

[1] Referred to as "a highly principled man with a strong personality", Gordon died at his home in Victoria Avenue, Unley Park, South Australia, survived by two sons and two daughters (his wife predeceasing him by 12 years).

One son, Douglas, served in the Legislative Council while the second, John, was a pilot who was awarded the Military Cross in World War I.