nd he became a sufferer of asthma. He then determined to leave England and settle in a drier and warmer climate and South Australia was his choice.
             He arrived in the colony in 1847. He was 26 years old. He obtained a job with Mr. Ridley who was the creator of the Ridley Reaping machine. Martin worked in a millwright's business in Hindmarsh and helped in the construction of reaping machines. Martin worked there for a long period and also worked in Adelaide, but he was determined to leave his job and begin a business of his own. He inquired about where the best place would be to start a new business and Gawler was recommended, so to Gawler he went.
             He arrived in a dray with his wife, furniture and a few tools. This was all he owned. He had already bought the site on which his future company would stand but one of his first jobs was to cut down a tree and from the timber produce benches and a lathe. (This area spanned about 10 meters and had extended to 18 acres by early 1899) Martin started his business with one man and by 1900 he was employing 700. He began his business by making bullock-drays and as agriculture became more important in the area he made reaping machines, other agricultural implements, mining machinery. His business continued to expand and by 1900 it was producing locomotives at a full time rate, each being classed as equal to any made in the world.
             At first his trade was local and then his reputation spread and soon he took on partners who expanded the business into other districts until orders for agricultural imp
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