'The Downer family has been seen by the community as part of the backbone of conservative South Australia. An intensely political family who saw public service as public duty.' - Alexander Downer The Downers of South Australia is Sir Alick Downer's lively story of this well-known family since its first members arrived in South Australia in 1837. Sir Alick Downer, who died in 1981, was Australia's Minister for Immigration, then Australian High Commissioner in London. His book is enriched by first-hand accounts of many political events, giving rare insight into political life from the 1950s to the 1970s. Sir Alick was also a family man, and his book is a tribute to the past, present and future generations of the Downer family.