Robert Thomson Melrose

Robert Thomson Melrose (22 April 1862 – 26 April 1945) was a pastoralist and politician in South Australia.

History

Melrose's parents George Melrose (22 December 1806 – 8 April 1894) and Euphemia, née Thomson, (died 1887) left Balerno, Scotland, on the Palmyra, arriving in 1839. George established a sheep run at Macclesfield with (later Sir) Walter W. Hughes, later settled at Mount Pleasant.[1]

Robert was educated at Prince Alfred College, then settled on the family property "Rosebank", of 5,800 acres (2,300 ha) at Mount Pleasant, where he was a very successful breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and Merino sheep, and was involved in extensive tree planting.

He was a director of Elder, Smith & Co., Ltd., and from 1917 until his death was a longtime member of the Stockowners' Association and the Agricultural and Horticultural Society and its president 1919–1920.[2]

He was chairman of the Anti-Cancer Campaign at the Adelaide University and on the board of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.[3]

He was a keen golfer.

Politics

Melrose was a member of the Legislative Council from 1921 to 1927.

Family

Robert T. Melrose was a second generation member of a large and influential South Australian family founded by George Melrose.

He was married, leaving a widow, Gwendoline Grace Melrose (1908–1991). They had no children.

References

  1. ↑ "The Late Mr. George Melrose". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 12 April 1894. p. 6. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Death of Former M.L.C. Pastoralist". The News (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 27 April 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Mr. R. T. Melrose Dead". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 28 April 1945. p. 7. Retrieved 11 November 2014.