About the Compiler

Geoffrey Manning was born in Waikerie in 1926 and lived at Peterborough, Mitcham, Parkside and Norwood before moving to Mount Gambier in 1936 where he completed his education. In 1942 he commenced work with the Savings Bank of South Australia, enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in January 1944 and, until the cessation of hostilities, served in the corvette HMAS Pirie as a Visual Signalman.

His interest in South Australian history dates from 1978 when he researched and published a family history - Hope Farm - Cradle of the McLaren Vale Wine Industry - and since retiring in 1982 has had a further eleven books published.

He is, perhaps, best known for his research into the nomencalture of South Australia and the publication Manning's Place Names of South Australia, which received the prestigious Vermeil Award at the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum's 16th Annual Philatelic Literature Fair in Massachusetts, USA, in 1992. In more recent years it is understood to be the most sought after reference book in the State's Public Library.