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George Melrose 1809-1894
George Melrose
settled at Rosebank Station in 1858. He was a Scottish pioneer with a particular interest in the pastoral industry. Born at Balerno, near Edinburgh, Scotland in 1806, he came to South Australia on the ship PALMYRA in 1839. He hoped to become successful in Australia, with little progress in his homeland.
George Melrose bought sheep soon after his arrival and began farming in the Mount Barker district. He is listed in the newspaper list of unclaimed letters on 11 May 1842, followed by the list of returns of sheep for the half-year ending the 31st May 1841 - G. Melrose (males 60, females 160, total 220) at Mount Barker.
Together with Capt. Walter Watson Hughes he ran sheep near Macclesfield, and George Melrose then went to the River Bremer and Reedy Creek before moving to the South Rhine, which included part of the Rosebank Estate, a name of Scottish origin. He is recorded as having an Occupational Licence in 1845 and at The Rhine in 1846.
Rhine station which at this time was a part of Rosebank became known as ‘Melrose’s old station’ and was established around 1843.
This did not stop his venture and he explored the River Murray region and Victoria, nearly succumbing to thirst in the scrub at one point.
He pioneered the Lake Victoria region, but it was not known at that time whether it was in New South Wales or Victoria and after seven years, New South Wales granted the lease of that region to another. Melrose then concentrated on Rosebank Estate and later acquired Franklin Harbor station, Borthwick Brae and Ulooloo properties.
George Melrose married Miss Euphemia Thomson, daughter of John Thomson of Kircaldy, Scotland in 1847 and took her on a honeymoon trip to Lake Victoria. She was the first white woman in that region and natives used to come long distances to see her. John Thomson arrived in South Australia aboard the ship MOFFATT in 1839 and settled at ‘Lilybank’ Mount Pleasant.
In August 1850 Thomas Maher was charged with stealing one horse, two colts, and one filly, value £28, the property of George Melrose, on the 1st November, 1847, at the River Rufus and place on bail. (River Rufus at Lake Victoria)
A purchase of land was made in December 1855, namely a SPECIAL COUNTRY LOT - County of Sturt, On the South Rhine, northeast of White's Hill Trigonometrical Station, Hundred not named. Secs. 1, Acres. 322, Purchasers. Geo. Melrose for the sum of £822/5/-, and County Sturt -North-west of, and adjoining the Reedy Creek Special Survey, Hundred of South Rhine, Sec. 417, 116 Acres, purchased for £116/5/-.
Rosebank homestead was built around 1858, with one of the Scotch shepherds building the men’s kitchen and woolshed some years prior to this. This unapprenticed man then ventured to Adelaide as a mason.
A Depasturing licences was granted in 1858 for the Hundred of North Rhine, with George Melrose having 578 as the number of great cattle to be depastured, and in the Hundred of South Rhine he had 353 cattle to be depastured.
Employees were loyal to Melrose and stayed for, at times, decades in his employ. He took a great interest in the community,
At the Ploughing match and show of stock in 1859 Melrose had his sheep on display. He was Vice-Chairperson of the 1860 Ploughing match committee with the establishment of the Show Committee with Chairman, George Melrose, Esq. ; Treasurer, Henry Giles, Esq. ; Secretary, Mr. Thomas Roberts in November 1862, followed by the first Show under the auspices of the Mount Pleasant Agricultural, Floricultural and Horticultural Show committee held on 3rd March 1863, with Melrose taking several prizes in the sheep and draught mare. This continued for the September Show of 1864. As part of the September 1867 Show it was organised that George Melrose would lay the foundation stone for the new Police Station, and a group of people attended this ceremony.
In 1861 he was present at the examination of the children of Miss Freeman’s school, which at that time had 60 students.
September 1862 saw him appointed as a Justice of the Peace.
April 1863 saw a bushfire destroying 1500 acres of feed at Rosebank.
In October 1865 there was a sale of land in County Sturt- About one and three quarter miles north of the junction of the North and South Rhine Rivers, Hundred of South Rhine. Sect. 250, 77 Acres, Geo. Melrose £77/5/0 and on and south of the River Rhine, south-east of the junction of the North and South Rhine Rivers, Hundred of South Rhine, Sect 262, 940 Acres, Geo. Melrose £240/5/0, Sect. 275, 71 Acres, Geo. Melrose £71/5/0.
George Melrose was Chairman of the South Rhine District Council 1867-1869.
He was also involved with the establishment of the Mount Pleasant Institute in 1863... the formation of an Institute—a project which has been for some time in contemplation. The night was very wet and stormy, but about 18 persons were in attendance, all of whom appeared to take a warm interest in the subject; some, indeed, having given sufficient proof of this by the distance they had come for the purpose of taking part in the proceedings. Mr. Bennet, J.P., having consented to take the chair, a resolution was carried to the effect that a Society he formed under the name of the Mount Pleasant Institute. A Committee of five, consisting of Messrs. Melrose, Bennett Maitland, Roberts, and Rev. J. Boake, was appointed to draw up a code of rules, to he submitted to a future, and, it is hoped, larger meeting, to be held on Friday week. They will also have to take into consideration the question of finding in the township premises suitable for a library and reading-room, which it seems will be the chief difficulty to be encountered in the formation of the Institute.
He was Judge at the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society Show and continuing to take prizes for his sheep at the local Show.
Euphemia Melrose nee Thomson
Children of George Melrose and Euphemia nee Thomson were:
George Thorburn Melrose (18 June 1855 – 11 May 1924), of "Rosebank"
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)Friday 29 June 1855 - Page 2
On the 18th inst., the wife of Mr. George Melrose, South Rhine, of a son.
James Melrose (29 June 1857 – 16 April 1922), of Wangaraleednie Station, Franklin Harbor; later of "Glenwood", Aldgate, married Isabel Mary Edhouse (June 1849 – 8 November 1908) on 6 August 1881. They had five children. He sold up the station and moved to "Glenwood", Aldgate, destroyed by fire in April 1900 and rebuilt. Their family included:
Effie Jessie Melrose (15 July 1882 – 25 November 1910) married David Fulton on 18 April 1906. She died of pneumonia as a complication of measles
Florence Isabel Melrose (15 Apr 1884 – 3 October 1958) was engaged to T. Hope Murray, Jr. in August 1908.
Clarice Gwendoline Thomson Melrose (27 March 1890 – 29 May 1957) married Herbert Mayo KC (3 June 1885 – 1 October 1972) on 17 May 1911. Mayo was a partner in law firm Symon, Mayo, Murray and Cudmore.
George Stanley Melrose (3 November 1886 – 31 January 1927) married Ethel Janet Baker in 1920, owned "Willogoleche", Hallett. They had two sons and a daughter.
Eric Nesbit Melrose (ca.1888 – 1 December 1909) died of meningitis
He married again, on 4 July 1912, to Hildergarde "Hilda" Westley Billing ( – ), a sister of Noel Billing. He died at their winter home in Glenelg. She sold "Glenwood" in 1923. They had only one child:
Charles James Melrose, universally known as Jimmy Melrose, (13 September 1913 – 5 July 1936), a noted aviator.
Sir John Melrose (12 January 1860 – 16 September 1938), of Ulooloo, lost his sight in 1901. He was a noted philanthropist. He married Emily Eliza Edhouse (1862–1923) on 17 April 1886. They had three children:
Emily Jessie Melrose (20 January 1887 – 19 December 1911). She married Charles Gerald Hack (27 September 1874 – 7 March 1936) on 29 October 1910, they had no children.
Alexander John Melrose (18 March 1889 – 6 September 1962). He married Jane Florence Lewis (17 March 1884 – 24 August 1970) on 1 March 1913; she was a daughter of John Lewis (1844–1923). He was MHA 1933–1941 and MLC 1941–1962 and president of the Liberal and Country League.
Lillie Margaret Melrose (17 Apr 1891 – 22 Jun 1970). She married Arthur Gaynor Owen Smyth (2 October 1897 – 3 June 1970) on 12 December 1939, they had no children. Lillie cared for her father at Ulooloo.
Robert Thomson Melrose (22 April 1862 – 26 April 1945), of Rosebank; pastoralist and politician. He married Gwendoline Grace Lawrie (1908–1991) they had no children.
Alexander "Alex" Melrose (16 May 1865 – 2 September 1944), a lawyer, was partner with Hermann Homburg in Homburg & Melrose, Adelaide. His significant donations to the Art Gallery of South Australia were commemorated in the Melrose Gallery. He never married.[14]
Janet "Jessie" Melrose (15 March 1848 – 27 September 1939) married Dr. Hugh Ferguson MRCS JP. (ca.1832 – 25 June 1887) on 22 October 1868
Alice Effie Ferguson ( – 29 June 1949) cared for her uncle Alex at "Chiverton", Wattle Park, and was bequeathed by him a parcel of land which became Ferguson Conservation Park, near Stonyfell, South Australia.
Elizabeth Thomson Melrose (15 October 1853 – 18 March 1945) married John Murray (ca.1849 – 28 May 1885) on 29 November 1877.
Sir John Stanley Murray (1884–1971) married (Winifred) Olive Wigg ( –1964), a daughter of E. S. Wigg, on 8 June 1910.
She married again, to Archibald MacDiarmid (ca.1847 – 19 August 1930) on 26 March 1890.[17]
Lillie Margaret Jane "Lily" Melrose (25 Mar 1870 – 10 March 1932) married Dr. Henry Higham Wigg (18 July 1858 – 22 April 1950), a son of E. S. Wigg, on 29 April 1891.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Monday 14 November 1887, page 2
OBITUARY.
The Late Mrs. George Melrose.— The funeral of the late Mrs. George Melrose, of Rosebank, Mount Pleasant, took place on Tuesday, November 2. She had been ailing a little time previously (writes our correspondent), but during the last week had been in her usual health and spirits. At about 11.30p.m. on October 31 she was taken suddenly ill, rose, and sat in her armchair, and expired in a few moments. The deceased lady was widely known and universally beloved and respected, and her loss will be felt in many a household. Her genial smile and courteous manner and fine physique will be missed from every country gathering for years to come. Mrs. George Melrose was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. John Thomson, of Lilly Bank, and formerly of Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, Scotland, She arrived in the colony in the ship Moffat at Holdfast Bay on December 18, 1839, was married in May, 1847, and proceeded with her husband to his station at Lake Victoria, New South Wales. Being the first white woman who went up the Murray she caused no little stir, and aroused intense interest and excitement among the blacks, who came for 50 miles around to see her. Mr. and Mrs. Melrose returned and settled on the Rhine the following year, and for the last thirty years have resided at their widely known and hospitable homestead, Rose bank, near Mount Pleasant. She leavers a very large circle of relations and friends to mourn their loss, including seven brothers, Messrs. Robert, David, John, William, Alexander, Frank, and James Thomson : five sons, Messrs. George, James, John, Robert, and Alexander Melrose ; three daughters, Mrs. H. Ferguson (widow of the late Dr. Ferguson, of Glenelg), Mrs. John Murray (widow of the late Mr. John Murray, of Wirrabara), and Miss Lilly Melrose. The attendance at the funeral was, as might be expected, very large, representatives of almost all parts of the colony and district being present. The procession was one of the longest seen here, and included the following relations and friends -—Mourning carriage, husband (Mr. George Melrose) and his five sons, Messrs. Robert and Frank Thomson, brothers, and Hon. A. B. Murray, Messrs. W. Murray, sen., A. J. Murray, and John Murray, of Rhine Park, D. Thomson, John and Charles Denton, R. B. Keynes, W. Logan, and James Johnston, of Oakbank, and Mrs. Donald Ferguson. The two latter were Mrs. Melrose's oldest friends. There were also present Dr. Engelhart (Mrs. Melrose's family physician), Messrs. W. G. H. and J. Phillis, N. M. Howard, Isaac Hall, John and Charles Royal, R Godfree, S. Tapscott. H. Dutton, C. Heritage, C. W. Hamilton, W. Moffat, E. Brice, J. and T. Nickels, H. Giles, H. A. Giles, H. Burrell, and many other friends too numerous to mention. The coffin was carried from the hearse to the grave by her five sons amid the profound silence of the vast concourse of people who had assembled to do honour to the deceased. The floral offerings were numerous and very beautiful. She was buried in the family burying-place in St. John's Cemetery, Mount Pleasant.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Thursday 12 April 1894, page 6
THE LATE MR. GEORGE MELROSE.
In Mondays Register we noticed with regret the death of Mr. George Melrose, of Mount Pleasant. The deceased gentleman, who was eighty-seven years of age on December 22 last, was the last survivor of the family of the late Mr. John Melrose, of Balerno, near Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to the colony in 1839 by the Palmyra. The Spence and Disher families and Sir William Milne were fellow-passengers. He was thus a colonist of over fifty-four years. He started sheep-farming at the Bremer on a small scale six months after his arrival in the colony, and a little later in conjunction with the late Sir W. W. Hughes near Macclesfield; afterwards he farmed sheep at Mount Barker with the late Mr. Robert Lawson of Padthaway; then he removed to the Rhine (part of the present Rosebank property). Wanting more room as his flocks increased, he went exploring for runs. Finding all the best of the then termed "North country" taken up, he went up the Murray in 1846, and took up the Lake Victoria country, being the first to form a station in that district. Having some difficulty with the New South Wales Government about leases, he finally abandoned Lake Victoria, and returned to the Rhine, and subsequently formed his head station at Rosebank, where he lived for thirty-six years. In later years he purchased Franklin Harbour, Borthwick Brae, and Ulooloo Runs. Mr. Melrose held high rank among those who have assisted in the making of South Australia. Arriving here in the infancy of the colony he, as is shown above, lost no time in turning to the best account the opportunities afforded him for acquiring an independence. He devoted his energies to the work of a settler, and set an example well worthy of imitation in the present day by those who have sought a home amongst us. He has lived and laboured here, and the success he achieved has been thoroughly well earned. A stern independence, indomitable courage and perseverance, and an eminently practical nature were his prominent characteristics. He was a man of strong individuality but great simplicity of character, and ever a vigorous enemy to any show of pride or vanity. He made several early small exploring expeditions, principally east of the River Murray, on one occasion undergoing considerable hardship for want of water. He was intimately acquainted with a great many of the pioneer colonists, in whose well-being he always manifested much interest. When in his eighty-fourth year he accompanied some of the members of his family to Great Britain and the Continent. Until quite recently he enjoyed excellent health, and was able to ride on horseback a few weeks ago. His faculties remained wonderfully clear until he lost consciousness the day before his death, and almost to the end he was able to work out draught problems appearing in the Australasian, in which game he had taken a lifelong interest. He had been ailing during the last fortnight, but was able to get about till Friday morning, when he rose, and had his usual walk before breakfast. He appeared bright and cheerful at breakfast, and arranged to go for a drive at 11 o'clock, but he fainted in his chair at 10 o'clock, and never rallied again. After over thirty hours continuous sleep he passed very quietly away on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. In 1847 Mr. Melrose married Miss Thomson, a daughter of the late Mr. John Thomson, of Lily Bank. She died on October 31, 1887. Mrs. Melrose accompanied her husband to Lake Victoria in 1847, and was the first white woman to go up the River Murray. The deceased gentleman leaves five sons— Messrs. George T. Melrose, of Rosebank ; James Melrose, of Franklin Harbour; John Melrose, of Ulooloo ; Robert T. Melrose, of Rosebank ; and Alexander Melrose (of Messrs. Homburg & Melrose), Adelaide— and three daughters— Mrs. Ferguson (widow of the late Dr. Ferguson), Mrs. Archibald MacDiarmid, and Mrs. H. H. Wigg.
THE FUNERAL. Over fifty vehicles, besides about twenty horsemen, with residents from the district and many from Adelaide, Mount Barker, and other places, followed the deceased's remains to the grave on Tuesday. Behind the mourning carriage was Mr. John Moody, an old man who had been in the service of deceased for 44 years, driving the late Mr. Melrose's favourite horse and buggy. Amongst those present besides the members of the family were Messrs. David and Frank Thomson (brothers in-law), D. Thomson (nephew), Dr. H. H. Wigg and Mr. A. MacDiarmid (sons-in-law), Messrs. Lovel and George Ferguson and Stanley Murray (grandsons), Mr. R. Barr Smith, Mr. William Murray, Hon. J. Warren, M.L.C., Messrs. A. S. Chapman (of Elder, Smith, & Co.), J. H. and A. J. Murray, R. R. Keynes, R. Godfree and sons, E. Brice, J. McTaggart, G. B. Sketheway, Dr. R. Hamilton, Rev. Mr. Hall, Messrs. Donald Fergusson, Dunn, J. W. Disher (an old shipmate), John and Andrew Johnston (Oakbank), W. R. Tothill, W. Moffatt, C. E. DeWynter, C. Heritage, P. Hynes, F. Pflaum, G. Phillis, M. Burns, John Murray, Mack, C. W. Hamilton, W. R. Randell, M.P., A. and E. Gilmour, L. von Doussa, H. Paltridge, D. Crozier, C. Royal, P. Milier, J. F. Mellor, Naismith, Shepherdson, O'Dea, J. and T. Nickels, Harding, Lyddon, Vigar, and Gregory, and many others, including all the late gentleman's employees. Apologies for absence were sent by the Hon. J. H. Angas, and Messrs. C. Angas, H. A. Giles, G. J. R. Murray, G. M. Anstey, R. Homburg, M.P., C. N. Fowler, A. B. Murray, C. Denton, N. G. Johnston, W. Gilbert, M.P., R. Bradford, G. Bradford, and Allan Baker. The funeral took place at St. John's Church Cemetery, Mount Pleasant. The Church of England service was conducted by the Rev. J. S. Wayland, Incumbent of St. John's Church.
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954), Friday 29 June 1894, page 3
THE LATE MR. G. MELROSE'S WILL.
Estate Sworn at £216,914.
The following is an abstract of the will of Mr. George Melrose, of Mount Pleasant, which was lodged at the Probate Office on Tuesday. The will is dated June 10, 1891, the estate being sworn not to exceed in value the sum of £216,914:—" I revoke all wills and testamentary writings heretofore made by me. I give, devise, and bequeath all my real and personal estate unto my sons George Thornburn Melrose, James Melrose, and Robert Thomson Melrose (who are throughout these presants designated my said trustees), their heirs and executors, administrators, and assigns, upon trust for the following uses and purposes—that is to say as soon as possible after my death to sell, convert, realize, and get in all my real and personal estates and effects, and out of the proceeds thereof, first to pay all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses, and secondly to pay, retain, and appropriate to my said trustees in equal shares the sum of £500 for their personal trouble in the execution of this my will, and I direct my said trustees to divide all the residue of my estate and effects equally amongst my children—George Thornburn Melrose, James Melrose, John Melrose, Robert Thomson Melrose, Alexander Melrose, Jessie Ferguson, Elizabeth Thomson MacDiarmid, and Lillie Margaret Jane Wigg— and I declare that if any of my said children shall die in my lifetime leaving a child or children who shall survive me then the share to which my said child so dying would, if living at my decease, have been entitled under the trusts hereof, shall be held by my said trustees upon trust for the child or children (equally between them if more than one) of such deceased child, and I declare that if at my decease any grandchild entitled in expectancy to a share under this my will shall be under the age of 21 years then, and in every each case, my trustees may apply the whole or any part of the income of the expectant share of such minor for or towards his or her maintenance and education... Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained I authorize my said trustees to postpone the sale, conversion, or realization of my said estate and effects or any part thereof for such a period as they shall think fit, and until such sale, conversion, or realization the income thereof shall be divided, paid, and applied to and amongst the persons to whom the said estate and effects would be payable, and I declare that while my estate and effects or any part thereof shall remain unsold or unconverted my trustees may continue the business of sheepfarming now carried on by me and may employ the whole or any part of my estate or effects in such business. . . . And I hereby declare that all property moneys hereby bequeathed to or which shall become payable to females shall be payable to them for their respective, sole, and separate use, and so that they respectively shall have no power to dispose thereof by way of anticipation I devise and bequeath all lands and hereditaments which shall at my decease be vested in me as mortgagee or trustee unto and to the use of my said trustees, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively.
Succession Duty, £14,049.
The succession duty payable to the Government under the will amounted to £14,049 18s. 8d. and was received at the Treasury on Wednesday. This sum is received under the second schedule of the Succession Duties Act of 1893, which provides that where the net present value of the property derived from the deceased person by any widow, descendant, or ancestor of the deceased person is £20,000 and under £80,000 a duty of 6 1/2 per cent, shall be charged.
Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), Wednesday 27 June 1894, page 2
MR MELROSE’S WILL
The Probate Duty,
£14,049 18s. 8d.
The amount of probate duty to be paid to the Government under the will of the late Mr. George Melrose at 6 1/2 per cent, on £216,914 is £14,049 18s. 6d. This sum is payable under the second schedule of the Succession Duties Act of 1893, which provides that "where the net present value of the property derived from the deceased person by any widow, descendant, or ancestor of the deceased person is £20,000 and under £30,000 a duty of 6 1/2 per cent, shall be charged. The estate in this case is equally divided between eight children.
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