George arrived in South Australia in November 1845 aboard Templar with his parents John and Anne Chinner, née Williams.
George was one of the City of Brighton's original councillors, at one time part owner of The Advertiser, a partner in Chinner & Parkin which would become James Marshall & Co. of Rundle Street, and a proficient musician.
Chinner was educated at St Peter's College where he had a successful career, winning the Short scholarship (named for Bishop Short),[1] but his great love was for music performance, in which he was capably tutored by his father, who though an amateur was sufficiently respected to be on the panel of judges which in 1859 selected Carl Linger's composition to accompany Caroline Carleton's Song of Australia.
He had a flourishing practice as a private tutor and in 1875 succeeded Carl Püttmann as music master at Prince Alfred College.
For 30 years he served as choirmaster and organist to the Pirie Street church, which enjoyed a high reputation for its musical offerings.