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November 1918: Emerging from the Great War

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Adelaide Law School

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Ligertwood Building

Person

Samuel James Way

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George Coutts Ligertwood

DESCRIPTION

Last NameLigertwoodFirst NameGeorgeMiddle NameCouttsTitleSirUnique IDUA-00007232Date of Birth15 October 1888Date of Death13 October 1967NationalityAUSBiography

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.

Image:

'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.

Image

Ligertwood Building Plaza - Law Pergola, 1982

Ligertwood Sculpture Unveiling, 1972

Ligertwood Building, 1970

Ligertwood Building, 1969

Ligertwood Building, 1967

University of Adelaide Council, 1952

Ligertwood Building Pond, c1974

Ligertwood Building, c1974

Ligertwood Building, c1972

Ligertwood Building, 1972

Ligertwood Building, c1972

Organisation

Adelaide University Football Club

Adelaide Law School

People or Position

Deputy Chancellor

Chancellor

Text

LIGERTWOOD, George Coutts

Place

Ligertwood Building

George Coutts Ligertwood, c. 1916. Courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, Portrait Collection, B 58344

POSITION

Position TitleChancellorStart Date of Person1961End Date of Person1966

POSITION

Position TitleDeputy ChancellorStart Date of Person1958End Date of Person1961

RELATIONSHIPS

CollectionNovember 1918: Emerging from the Great WarOrganisation Adelaide Law SchoolPlaceLigertwood BuildingPersonSamuel James WayPositionChancellorDeputy Chancellor