John Gunson among clutch of doctors to be Adelaide's first car owners and a leader in several medical areas
Dr John Gunson in his Oldsmobile (third car from left) on North Terrace, Adelaide, at the first rally of the Automobile and Motor Cycling Club of South Australia in 1903. At the left of Dr Gunson is Vivian Lewis and in the Oldsmobile at the far left are Richard (left) and James Duncan of Duncan & Fraser, the dealers for Dr Gunson's car.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia
John Gunson (registration plate No.3) was one of a clutch of doctors among Adelaide’s first car owners. Dr Gunson was a founding active member of Automobile and Motor Cycling Club of South Australia in 1903 and a life member when it became the Royal Automobile Association (RAA).
Born at Angas Street, Adelaide, in the house where his father, Dr J. M. Gunson, had practised, John Gunson graduated in medicine from Adelaide University in 1893, after earlier education at Christian Brothers’ College, Adelaide, and in Paris. Dr. Gunson was one of the first men to use X-ray apparatus at the Adelaide Children's Hospital where he was honorary physician for more than 25 years. He was also honorary assistant physician at Adelaide Hospital (1909-16) and honorary consulting obstetrician at the Queen's Home, Adelaide.
As honorary secretary and later vice-president of the South Australian branch of the British Medical Association, he arranged the association’s congress in Adelaide in 1905. His work with the St John Ambulance Association was recognised with an order of St John of Jerusalem.
William Angove was another doctor keen on cars. His first was a White Steamer made in 1902 by the White Sewing Machine Company of Cleveland, Ohio. It ran on steam, not petrol, and could go for 100 miles on a tank full of water. Two years later he bought a 6hp Humberette followed by a 1hp De Bion Bouton and in 1907 a 10hp De Bion Bouton. Angove liked the 77 registration number for all his cars.
The list of first South Australian motor car registrations and numbers, in the Tourists Road Guide, South Australia 1908, is:
1 Hargreaves, W.A. Woodville
2 Waite, Peter Glen Osmond
3 Gunson, Dr. J.B. Angas Street
4 Cudmore, Dr. A.M. North Terrace
5 Swift, Dr. H. Victoria Square
6 Ayers, F.G., Waymouth Street, Adelaide
7 Morgan, Dr. A.M., Angas Street, Adelaide
8 Ayers, A.E., King William Street, Adelaide
9 Waterhouse, A., East Terrace, Adelaide
10 Rymill, E.S., East Terrace, Adelaide
11 Rymill, A.G,. Glenelg
12 McFarlane, A., Wellington East
13-14 Lendon, Dr. A.A., North Terrace
15 Harris, F.J., Gawler
16 Florey, J., Malvern
17 Smith, T.E. Barr, Currie Street
18 Scarfe, A.A., Burnside
19 Marsden, Dr. W.C., Willunga
20 Meikle, Dr. A.J., Yankalilla
21 Smith, Drs. O.W and A.A., Clare
22 Pilkington, C.G., Marryatville
23-24 Ralli, S.S., Adelaide
25 Knox, N.A., Burnside
26 Brown, A.P., Mintaro
27 Gebhardt, L.W., Mount Bryan
28 Gebhardt, Albert G., Kooringa
29 Fooks, Dr. E.V.R., Gawler
30 Crank, Peter, Unley Park
31 Hayward, Dr. W.T., Norwood
32 Borthwick, Dr. T., Kensington
33 Marten, Dr. R.H., North Terrace
34 Walker, J.R., King William Street, Adelaide
35 Summers, A.C,. Parkside
36 Souter, Dr. C.H.J., Adelaide
37 Bollen, Dr. P., Semaphore
38 Walker, J.W., Mannum
39 Glynn, Dr R. McM., Riverton
40 Rogers, G.J., Wallaroo Bay
41 Main, Hugh, Mintaro
42 Shearer, D., Mannum
43 Shearer, J., Mannum
44 Sangster, Dr. J.I., Kooringa
45-46 Reissmann, Dr. C., Norwood
47 Broad, A.S., Unley
48 Davidson, W.L., Hackney
49 Wilksch, E.H.E., King William Street, Adelaide
50 Lavers, Dr. R. North Adelaide