| Notes |
- BIRTHDATE
Note that some records (Ancestry DNA family trees) record birth date as 3 November 1948
CARLTON FOOTBALLER
• The old grandstand which bears his name faces the city to which Carlton footballer, President, watchmaker, auctioneer, state parliamentarian and alderman, John Gardiner JP dedicated more than half his life.
• That he also captained Victoria in its first inter-colonial match - against South Australia at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground on the Separation Day holiday of July 1879 is another of Gardiners many and varied personal distinctions.
• “He [Gardiner] was a famous footballer in his youth. He was one of Carltons first captains and his play was characterized by determination and skill. He was known as “Tiger” Gardiner,” reported The Herald at the time of Gardiners passing.
• “All his life he had taken a very keen interest in the welfare of the Carlton Football Club and for some time was president.”
Gardiners career as a Carlton footballer of the old VFA days are sketchy, although The Age offered the odd clue back in 29.
“In his younger days Alderman Gardiner was a famous footballer who played for Carlton and up to a few years ago he was President of Carlton Football Club, the organization which originally claimed his allegiance,” the newspaper reported.
“He was one of those who took to the newly-invented Australian game, and as one of Carltons first captains, earned a great reputation for skill and dash. He captained the team that went to Sydney with a view to popularising the game there. This team played a New South Wales team, a match partly under Australian rules and partly under the rugby code.”
Alderman Gardiners love for the great Australian game never waned. His last appearance as a footballer came in 1924, when in his old Carlton uniform he led a team of veterans against another 18 captained by the late Albert Thurgood, at a charity match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Carlton comment
• Alderman John Gardiner, who was a member of the Club almost since its inception, and one who played an important part in the affairs of the Club, both as player and administrator. In his early days he was captain, and had the honor of leading the first Interstate side, whilst in latter years he was an enthusiastic official, occupying the position of President from 1914 to 1924, when he retired. Although he was a public man, he did not lose his interest in the Club, and he was a regular attendant at our games to the last. Reference to his death was made at the meeting of the Australian National Football Council and the Victorian Football League.”
- PUBLIC OFFICE - Alderman on Melbourne City Council
• Gardiner entered the Legislative Assembly in 1880, when he defeated Mr James Munro for the Carlton seat.
• This seat he held until 1892, when he was defeated by FH Bromley.
• Listed high amongst Gardiners many achievements in political life was his formulation of the bill allowing for the eight-hour working day, together with Alfred Deakin, later Australias second Prime Minister.
• He then devoted his full attention to his City council interests.
• He was elected a member of the council for the Victoria Ward in May, 1890, and retired on November 1, 1894.
• He was re-elected for the Victoria Ward in March 1904, and
• He became Alderman in May, 1915.
• Alderman Gardiner was chairman of the Town Hall and Baths Committee, and a member of the Abattoir and Cattle Markets Committee. He took a keen interest in the rebuilding of the Town Hall after the fire.
• One of alderman Gardiners acts was to bring about improvements to the North Carlton, North Melbourne, and Batman Avenue Baths at a cost of more than £25,000.
• The Argus reported that fifty years of public life in Victoria had afforded the alderman a wide circle of friends in all sections of the community.
• “ . . . His [Gardiners] entry into public life was a direct result of his prowess at sport. In unusual circumstances he obtained a seat in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. In November, 1879, Mr James Munro, who was thought to have an absolutely safe seat as representative of the Carlton electorate withdrew his support from the Berry Ministry and went before his constituents to obtain endorsement for his action. He was opposed by Mr John Curtain, but he held the seat by a large majority. Parliament was dissolved in the following January, and it was regarded as a foregone conclusion that Mr Munro would again win easily. Alderman Gardiner was at the time captain of the Carlton football team and without much hope that he would overcome Mr Munro, he was induced by several sporting organizations to become a candidate. He won the seat easily, and held it for many years until finally he was defeated by Mr FH Bromley.
• Following his defeat, he lived in the country for some years, returning in 1904 to contest a seat in the Council for Victoria Ward, for which he had previously been a councillor for a short term. He was successful, and held the seat until his death. In 1915 he was elected alderman.”
• Gardiner died less than a week short of his 81st birthday, on Monday, October 28, 1929 the same year in which Mr. HCA Harrison (“the father of the Australian game of football”) also died. As a mark of respect to Gardiners passing, the Citys flags flew at half mast.
- MOVE TO MELBOURNE FROM GEELONG
• Details of Gardiners formative years are sketchy, but archival material suggests he remained in the Geelong district for at least the first 25 years of his life. It is also known that he married Anna (“Annie”) Sidley a native of Limerick, Ireland - at the dwelling of J James Martin at La Trobe Terrace, Geelong, on September 26, 1874.
• At some point the Gardiner family relocated to Carlton, where his vital links with the neighbouring football club were first forged.
• “I believe they first settled in Park Street, on the north side of the Carlton ground,”Gardiner's great grand son BillWard said. “There is a lot of hearsay, but Im led to believe John had a bit of money, but lost it in the land boom.
• “John and his family later relocated from Park Street to 166 Rathdowne Street, North Carlton.
- NAMING OF GARDINER STAND
Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954), Saturday 18 June 1932, page 6
"John Gardiner" Stand
The Carlton cricket and football committees have agreed to name the old Carlton stand at the Prince's oval the "John Gardiner" stand in recognition of the great work the late City Alderman did for the club as a player and supporter. The re-commendation will go to the grounds management committee for final approval.
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AIGS/FHC Member's - Family Trees
1848 - 1929 (81 years)
