George E. Loyau

[1] In 1878 he helped found, and served as secretary for, the Gawler Literary and Dramatic Society which, despite his best efforts, failed to thrive.

Some early examples of his very extensive poetic output, described by one critic as "A dish of shingles"[6] Loyau married Eliza Ann "Annie" Sharp in Brisbane on 5 May 1862.

Many years ago he lived in Adelaide as a sort of literary hack, both before and after he edited the Gawler Bunyip, into which he put good writing of the novelette type.

I mentioned just now something not complimentary to his business qualities, and so I ought in fairness to show that he had a notion of the right number of beans required to count five.

I wrote nearly a page – it was a little volume – but when I took the copy to poor old Loyau his face bore an expression of doubt.

After all, Loyau was not alone in practically applying the theory that a man's biography should depend on the numbers of the copies of the biographical work bought by him.

I am acquainted with the particulars of cases in which two Australian politicians paid very handsomely for a specially complimentary notice in a book.