 Weir was born in Norwood , South Australia , on 23 April 1866 , a son of Alfred Weir and <unk> Mary ( née Price ) . His father was a carpenter , who had emigrated to South Australia from Aberdeen , Scotland , in 1839 , two years after the colony was founded . Weir attended Moore 's School , the Norwood Public School , and Pulteney Street Grammar School . In 1879 , at the age of 13 , he joined the <unk> General 's Department as an office assistant . He assisted the surveyor who <unk> out the land at the rear of Government House , Adelaide , for the Torrens Parade Ground , and was later promoted to clerk . On 14 May 1890 , he married Rosa <unk> at the Christian Chapel , Norwood . He rose through the department to be appointed Survey <unk> , <unk> of Plans and <unk> of Government Motor Cars , on 1 July 1911 . He was appointed a justice of the peace on 10 September 1914 . 
