John Neales

In 1841, Neales helped found the South Australian Mining Association which worked the "Wheal Gawler" silver-lead deposit at Glen Osmond then Montacute.

Around 1860, he was involved in a Parliamentary enquiry into the floating of the Great Northern Copper Mining Company of James Chambers.

[2] Neales served as a member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the City of Adelaide in 1857-60 and for the seat of The Burra (partnered with George Cole) from 1862 to 1870.

[1] Neales succeeded Francis Dutton as Minister for Crown Lands in 1865, and held that position for a year.

[7] A remarkable tribute was paid him in the pages of The Register by John Howard Clark in the voice of "Geoffry Crabthorn", better known for pungent satire than fulsome praise:[8] Neales married Margaret Williams (c. 1808 – 18 October 1877) on 11 July 1843.