He was appointed a director of the Bank of Adelaide in 1889, and held similar positions with the Queensland Investment and Land Mortgage Company, and the National Mutual Life Association.
In 1877 he won the position of Mayor of Adelaide, after a contest with William Christie Buik, and held it the following year against (later Sir) John Colton.
[1] Throughout this period he gave vigorous support to deep-drainage schemes, which helped give Adelaide a reputation as the healthiest city in Australia.
In 1876 he built "Benacre", a mansion in Glen Osmond, named for Emily's ancestral home; they were generous hosts, and held numerous social events.
He was forced by ill-health to retire around 1905, and died at his summer residence, "Boode", Crafers, South Australia.