GILFILLAN, JOHN ANDERSON (1821-75) was born at Torry, in the parish of Torryburn, Fifeshire, and educated at the Grammar School of Cullen, Banffshire. In 1837 he entered the office of Briggs, Thorburn, Acraman and Co., of Calcutta, and at the end of the year was transferred to the London office. His health suffered from overwork and he was advised to seek a better climate. He accordingly came to Wellington in the barque Victoria (1846). Having to arrange business matters before settling in Auckland, he returned home in H.M.S. Racehorse. In 1848 he came to Auckland in the Lalla Rookh, to join his brother Robert, who had preceded him in the Dart.

Gilfillan was gazetted a justice of the peace in 1852, and when the new constitution was brought into operation he was one of the first members elected to the Auckland Provincial Council (for Auckland Suburbs, Aug 1853). Early the following year he was a member of the provincial executive, and in May 1854 he was called to the Legislative Council, in which he sat till 1861, and again from 1862 to 1866. He remained a member of the Provincial Council for many years (representing Auckland Suburbs 1853-55, and Auckland West 1867-68) and was a member of the executive in 1854-55, in 1864 and in 1867-68. For some time he was provincial secretary under the superintendency of Williamson. In 1858 Gilfillan was appointed representative in Auckland of the Colman Steamship Co., of Hull, which established steam communication between Sydney and New Zealand (with the Airedale, Lord Ashley, Lord Worsley, Claud Hamilton and Prince Alfred). He was the first president of the Auckland chamber of commerce and for many years took an interest in the commercial advancement of the city. Gilfillan married (1852) Gertrude Anne Eliza (who died in 1885), daughter of Dr W. Davies, Colonial Surgeon. He died on 1 Feb 1875.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D.; Cycl. N.Z., ii.

Reference: Volume 1, page 164

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