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November 1918: Emerging from the Great War

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Adelaide Law School

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Ligertwood Building

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Samuel James Way

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George Coutts Ligertwood

Biography

George Coutts Ligertwood was born on 15 October 1888 at Maylands, Adelaide.[1]

He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1908 with a Bachelor of Arts[2] and a Bachelor of Laws in 1910, having won the David Murray Scholarship, as well as the Stow Prize for each year of his studies, granting him the award of Stow scholar.[3] Ligertwood also became an Examiner in Wrongs and in Property for the University between 1913 and 1919 and again in 1926.[4]

Ligertwood was admitted to the Bar in December 1910 and was an Associate to Chief Justice Samuel Way.[5] He was made King’s Counsel in 1930,[6] President of the Law Society of South Australia from 1935 to 1937,[7] and was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court in 1945.[8] He was knighted in 1956.[9]

At the University of Adelaide, Ligertwood was a member of the Council from 1942, Warden of its Senate from 1945, and appointed Deputy Chancellor in 1958[10]. In 1961 he was made Chancellor, a position he held until his retirement in 1966.[11]

From 1961, Ligertwood chaired the Planning Committee for the establishment of Flinders University.[12]

He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Western Australia in 1963.[13]

George Ligertwood died on 13 October 1967.[14] His 1962 portrait, by prolific war artist Ivor Hele, hangs in Bonython Hall,[15] whilst the Ligertwood Building, completed in 1967 and named in his honour, houses the University's Law School.[16]

Footnotes:

1. Registrar’s Department 1900-1985, ‘Ligertwood, G C’ [Student card]. University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 1117.

2. Calendar of the University of Adelaide 1909,’Past and present graduates’, W. K. Thomas & Co., Printers, Adelaide, p. 45.

3. Registrar’s Department 1900-1985, ‘Ligertwood, G C’ [Student card]. University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 1117.

4. Registrar’s Department 1913-1979, ‘Ligertwood, G C’ [Index card]. University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 1686.

5. Emerson, J 2006, First among equals: Chief Justices of South Australia since Federation, The University of Adelaide Press, South Australia, p. 47.

6. News 1930, ‘Three new King’s Counsel: Messrs. Mayo, Ligertwood, and Thomson’, News, 27 August, p. 5, viewed 12 January 2023, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130263518>.

7. The Law Society of South Australia n.d., 'History of the Law Society: past presidents of the Law Society', The Law Society of South Australia, viewed 6 December 2022, <https://www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/Public/About/History_of_the_Law_Society.aspx>.

8. News 1945 ‘Welcome for new judge’ News, 16 July, p. 3, viewed 12 January 2023, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130231009>.

9. The Canberra Times 1956, ’12 Australians knighted in honours list’, The Canberra Times, 2 January, p. 2, viewed 12 January 2023, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138116054>.

10. University Council. (1966) Minutes, Vol. XXX, 7 October 1966 [Volume]. University of Adelaide, University Archives Series 18, Volume 30.

11. University Council. (1966) Minutes, Vol. XXX, 7 October 1966 [Volume]. University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 18, Volume 30.

12. Hilliard, D 1991, Flinders University: The first 25 years, 1966-1991, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, p. 12.

13. University Council. (1963) Minutes, Vol. XXVII, 29 November 1963 [volume]. University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 18, Volume 27.

14. Registrar’s Department 1900-1985, ‘Ligertwood, G C’ [student card]. University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 1117.

15. Ivor Hele, The Honourable Sir George Ligertwood, 1962, oil on composition board, 145 cm x 124.5 cm, University of Adelaide, Visual Art Collection, A.VA.2006.23.

PositionsChancellor, 1961-1966Deputy Chancellor, 1958-1961

George Coutts Ligertwood as a soldier during the 1914-18 European War, c. 1916. Courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, Portrait Collection, B 58344.

Personal Details

TitleSirDate of Birth15th October 1888Date of Death13th October 1967NationalityAustralian

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George Coutts Ligertwood