Our History

Wallmans Lawyers was born on April 25, 1908, when Reginald Horton Wallmann signed the Roll of Practitioners and was admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia.  He started practice in his own name the same day.

RH Wallmann changed his name early in 1917 because, according to his daughter, the double “n” was considered to have too German a character in the Great War years.  He apparently had no qualms about doing so, as the British Royal family also changed their name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to establish the House of Windsor in the same year.

During the next four decades, “Wallman” was associated with many other leading legal names in Adelaide as his business grew and new partnerships were formed.

Big changes came at the start of the 1960s, when the then firm of Wallman, Palmer, Hutton & Duffy decided to restructure and expand. 

The new name of Wallman & Partners was registered with the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs on June 1, 1960, and the following year distinguished lawyers such as Len King QC (later Attorney-General and Chief Justice) joined the firm.  Len King was one of eight Wallmans partners who went on to become a judge. 

The 1970s saw Wallmans move from its base in Waymouth Street to Wakefield Street and make its mark as an innovative as well as reputable law firm.  It was, for example, the first in Adelaide to place a computer screen on every lawyer’s desk.

In the early 1980s (a period of great change in Adelaide’s legal fraternity with the establishment of the independent bar) Wallmans moved from strength to strength by attracting like-minded lawyers of similar integrity and skill.  It also formed creative partnerships with other firms offering complementary services.

Wallmans moved to its existing premises at 173 Wakefield Street in April 1990 and continued to grow in size, reputation and range of services. There are many more of us now – all like-minded lawyers of similar integrity and skill.

We like to think RH Wallmann would be proud.