Edward Hallstrom

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Sir Edward Hallstrom (25 September 1886—27 February 1970) was one of Australia's best-known philanthropists and businessmen of the mid-20th Century.^[1]

Largely self-taught, having left school at 13, he was to become the first major manufacturer of refrigerators in Australia. He invented kerosene models designed for use in the Australian outback, and then developed gas and electric refrigerators, culminating by the 1940s in mass production of the popular "Silent Knight" brand.

Hallstrom directed much of his fortune to the Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney, becoming a trustee and later chairman of the zoo. He personally funded the purchase of many large and exotic species from overseas. He was also generous in his financial gifts to hospitals and medical research centres as well as numerous charities.

In the latter part of his life Hallstrom was involved in controversy over his concept of the development of the Taronga Zoo, with two state government inquiries criticising his lack of professional training in zoology as well as the extent of his use of concrete in animal enclosures. According to Audrey Tate, "The inquiries shook Hallstrom badly. He rejected the notion that an ardent love of animals could be superseded by professional training and that 'scientists found it impossible to communicate with him'. From 1966 he was also under covert surveillance for illegal trafficking in fauna. Four years later, thirty-five people were convicted of that offence and it was thought that Hallstrom may have used his influence to have his involvement concealed. Whatever the truth, in 1968, dispirited and unwell, he donated his personal collection of birds and animals worth more than $20,000 to the zoo."

Hallstrom was a member of zoological societies in Sydney, London and New York and was also a member of the Explorers Club. He was knighted in 1952, and received gold medals from zoological societies in Belgium and San Diego, as well as an honorary Swedish knighthood. An unusual first was that he was the first Australian to be named "Father of the Year" (in 1957).^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

• Taronga Zoo History
• The end of a unique institution
• Good zoos

Persondata
NAME	Hallstrom, Edward
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Twentieth century Australian philanthropist and businessmen
DATE OF BIRTH	25 September 1886
PLACE OF BIRTH	Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia
DATE OF DEATH	27 February 1970
PLACE OF DEATH	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia