Chinner was born in
Brighton, South Australia, a son of George Williams Chinner ( – 27 May 1880) and his wife Caroline Chinner née Bowen (died 1861). George arrived in South Australia in November 1845 aboard
Templar with his parents John and Anne Chinner, née Williams. George was one of the
City of Brighton's original councillors, at one time part owner of
The Advertiser, a partner in Chinner & Parkin which would become
James Marshall & Co. of Rundle Street, and a proficient musician. He was one of the judges appointed by the Gawler Institute to select the music for
Caroline Carleton's "
Song of Australia". Chinner was educated at
St Peter's College where he had a successful career, winning the Short scholarship (named for
Bishop Short), but his great love was for music performance, in which he was capably tutored by his father, who though an amateur was sufficiently respected to be on the panel of judges which in 1859 selected
Carl Linger's composition to accompany
Caroline Carleton's
Song of Australia. :In 1887 Chinner wrote a choral arrangement of the
Song of Australia with piano accompaniment, which enjoyed considerable popularity. In 1869 he was appointed honorary organist and choirmaster to the
Pirie Street Wesleyan (Methodist) Church. In November 1872 he left for
Melbourne for study purposes, returning in 1873 to the Pirie Street church. He had a flourishing practice as a private tutor and in 1875 succeeded
Carl Püttmann as music master at
Prince Alfred College. For 30 years he served as choirmaster and organist to the Pirie Street church, which enjoyed a high reputation for its musical offerings. He was a prolific composer of works for choir and organ, many of which were published and acquired currency beyond the State and Commonwealth. He retired around 1905 and lived a secluded life in his
Hutt Street home. ==Compositions==