Age, Biography and Wiki

Alick Downer (Alexander Russell Downer) was born on 7 April, 1910 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, is an Australian politician (1910–1981). Discover Alick Downer's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 71 years old?

Popular As Alexander Russell Downer
Occupation N/A
Age 71 years old
Zodiac Sign Aries
Born 7 April, 1910
Birthday 7 April
Birthplace North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Date of death 1981
Died Place Tanunda, South Australia, Australia
Nationality Australia

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 7 April. He is a member of famous politician with the age 71 years old group.

Alick Downer Height, Weight & Measurements

At 71 years old, Alick Downer height not available right now. We will update Alick Downer's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Alick Downer's Wife?

His wife is Mary Gosse (m. 23 April 1947)

Family
Parents John William Downer and Una Stella Haslingden Downer (née Russell)
Wife Mary Gosse (m. 23 April 1947)
Sibling Not Available
Children 4 (including Alexander Downer)

Alick Downer Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Alick Downer worth at the age of 71 years old? Alick Downer’s income source is mostly from being a successful politician. He is from Australia. We have estimated Alick Downer's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income politician

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Timeline

1910

Sir Alexander Russell "Alick" Downer (7 April 1910 – 30 March 1981) was an Australian politician and diplomat.

1932

After graduating from Oxford in 1932 he read law in London, and in 1934 he was admitted to the bar at Inner Temple.

In 1932, Downer bought the property known as Raywood in the Adelaide Hills, which he renamed Arbury Park after Arbury Hall, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire where his friends the Newdigate family lived.

He was responsible for the construction of the large Georgian mansion and extensive formal gardens and deer park, "which was important to his concept of the property as an English estate".

1935

Returning to Adelaide, he joined the South Australian Bar in 1935.

1940

He practised as a barrister until joining the Australian Army in 1940.

He served in Malaya and was a prisoner-of-war for three years, where he set up a camp library and gave lessons to other prisoners.

He was promoted to sergeant due to these efforts, but the promotion was not recognised upon his release.

1947

On 23 April 1947, he married Mary Gosse, daughter of Sir James Gosse, whom he had met at a cocktail party in Adelaide.

1948

Together they had four children, Stella Mary (born 1948), Angela (born 1949), Alexander Downer (born 1951), who would later serve as the leader of the Liberal Party (1994 to 1995) and Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Howard government, and Una Joanna (born 1955).

1949

He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1949 and 1963, representing the Liberal Party, and served as Minister for Immigration in the Menzies Government.

After the war, Downer joined the newly formed Liberal Party of Australia, and in 1949 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the rural-based Division of Angas.

By invitation of the premier, Thomas Playford, he joined the board of the Electricity Trust of South Australia for three years and the Art Gallery board where he remained for seventeen years until his appointment as High Commissioner.

1958

He served as Minister for Immigration from 1958 to 1963.

One of his first acts was to oversee the passage of the Migration Act 1958, which replaced the earlier Immigration Restriction Act 1901 that had formed the basis of the White Australia policy.

During his term in office, reforms to migration laws led to the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants, mostly from Britain and Europe, where new recruitment posts had been created.

Many refugees were also accepted.

As a result of his experience as a prisoner of war, he arranged for non-criminal deportees to be held in detention centres instead of being sent to jail.

1963

He was later High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1972.

Downer was born in Adelaide as a member of the influential Downer family.

His father, Sir John Downer, was a Premier of South Australia and a member of the Australian Senate.

His mother was Una Russell, daughter of Henry Chamberlain Russell, who remarried when Alick was eight, to D’Arcy Wentworth Addison.

1965

Downer was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1965 Birthday Honours.

He was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1965.

Downer actively lobbied both the prime minister, William McMahon, and the British government directly, for a peerage of the UK Parliament.

McMahon wrote to 10 Downing Street with a proposal, but it was declined.

Downer was reportedly "very bitter" about this rejection.

The property, after reversion to its former name when bought by the state government in 1965, is heritage-listed.

1972

He retired from Parliament upon his appointment as Australian High Commissioner in London, a position he held until 1972.

The building of the High Commission, Australia House, has a Downer Room on the first floor, named in his honour.

1982

His book Six prime ministers (Robert Menzies, John Gorton, Harold Holt, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough) was published in 1982.

1994

Sir Alick's son, Alexander Downer, also a Liberal politician, was Leader of the Opposition 1994–95 and Foreign Minister of Australia 1996–2007.

He was educated at Geelong Grammar School and at the University of Oxford, where he graduated in economics and political science.

He was the godfather of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Earl's godmother was Queen Elizabeth II.