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Alexander Tolmer, born in London in 1815, was educated in both France and England. At the age of seventeen he joined the army and fought in the Portuguese Civil War. In October 1830 he was wounded and while recovering in hospital he was decorated by the Emperor, Don Pedro.
After the war he returned to England, became a Sergeant-Major, got married to Mary Carter, had a son Alexander, and left with his wife, four month old son and his wife's sister for South Australia on the Brakanmoore on 4 September 1839. After a most unpleasant trip, arriving in Adelaide, Tolmer went to see Governor Gawler and was appointed Sub-Inspector of Police on 19 February 1840. The Superintendent at that time was Henry Inman, known to him from his time in Portugal. As the police force was rather undisciplined, Tolmer was expected to assist in its reorganization.
He was involved in several trips to the north of the colony. In 1842 he took part in the search for C.C. Dutton and some of his men who were feared lost while returning from Port Lincoln. It was also at this time that he had his first experiences in the Flinders Ranges.
With gold discoveries in New South Wales and Victoria, very few able men remained in South Australia. As little gold had been found here they could not resist the good news from over the border. Economic conditions were bad in South Australia, and with few men left to work the Kapunda and Burra Mines they, and any other mine, closed for the time being. By the end of 1851 more than 15,000 hopeful diggers had left South Australia.
The government soon realised that they had to do something to attract these diggers, and their wealth, back to Adelaide to improve its economy. When Tolmer was appointed Commissioner of Police and Police Magistrate in 1852, he proposed that the gold won by South Australians should be brought back here rather than have them sell it in Victoria. Tolmer convinced the government that he would be able to bring the gold back to South Australia under an escort consisting of only a few men.
The Government accepted his idea after a successful test run had been made. It passed the necessary legislation, The Assay Bullion Act, to authorise the establishment of an assay office and smelting facilities for the gold dust, and on 10 February 1852 Tolmer and his small party were on their way to Mount Alexander. Ten days later Tolmer, Sergeant J. Lamb, Constables William Rowe and John Cusack and an Aboriginal aide arrived at Forest Creek where they were given a tumultuous welcome.
More than three hundred diggers sold their gold, at a much better price than they had received from the Victorians, and in March the Gold Escort was on its way back to Adelaide. With almost 6,000 ounces of gold for the vaults of the Treasury Building, on the Corner of King William and Flinders Streets, the party reached Adelaide twelve days later on 19 March. After this successful trip Tolmer led two other escorts before handing over his duties. A total of eighteen gold escorts were made, the last one during November and December 1853 when Inspector Wyndham was in charge.
Tolmer was promoted to Superintendent in early 1855. Unfortunately he and Commissioner P. Egerton Warburton did not get along very well and after only a year Tolmer was dismissed in March 1856. One of the possible reasons for the dismissal could have been Tolmer's quick temper. His son James Douglas had the same problem and while droving cattle from Innamincka to Farina in 1893 killed an Aborigine after 'they had a few words'.
Although dismissed, Tolmer remained a public servant. In October 1859 he was in the Northern Flinders Ranges at Mount Serle. One of his appointments was that of Crown Land Ranger on 4 April 1863. In 1868 he was stationed at Robe.
He died on 7 March 1890 at the age of 74 and was buried at the Mitcham Cemetery.
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