Alf Ellison

Alf Ellison
Born (1903-01-01)1 January 1903
Queensland
Died 12 June 1987(1987-06-12) (aged 84)
Scone, New South Wales
Nationality Australian
Education Newington College
University of Sydney
Occupation Solicitor
Company director
Racehorse owner and breeder
Pastoralist
Spouse(s) Nancy (née Shearston)
Parent(s) Rev Thomas Ellison and Fanny (née Bytheway)

Alfred Owen Ellison (1 January 1903 – 12 June 1987), often referred to in print as A.O. Ellison and known colloquially as Alf or A.O., was an Australian solicitor, company director, racehorse owner and breeder. For over forty years he was the owner of Baramul Stud.[1] Ellison served as chairman of the Australian operations of Mutual Acceptance Ltd (now Standard Chartered)[2] and Lister Blackstone.[3] He was President of the Bloodhorse Breeders' Association of N.S.W.[4]

Birth and education

Ellison was born in Queensland, to Fanny (née) Bytheway and the Rev. Tom Ellison, a Methodist minister. He was one of six children: four boys and two girls. Ellison commenced at Newington College in 1918 during the headmastership of the Rev Dr Charles Prescott.[5] In 1920, his last year at school, he was Senior Prefect and was awarded the Old Boys Prize.[6] Ellison was awarded an exhibition in the Leaving Certificate.[7] He went up to the University of Sydney in 1921 and graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1924 and as a Bachelor of Laws in 1927.[8] He was in residence at Wesley College, University of Sydney.[9]

Legal career

After serving as an articled clerk with Robson & Cowlishaw during his university studies, Ellison foundered the legal firm AO Ellison & Co in Sydney. It was active in advising New South Wales manufacturers on to their rights and liabilities, especially in relation to industrial relations and occupational health and safety legislation. The firm moved into insurance work and after a series of mergers is now known as Rankin Ellison and has offices in Sydney and Newcastle.[10]

Horses

In 1940, Ellison founded Baramul Stud in the Hunter Valley. The name of Baramul originally had two Rs. It was developed on land known as Joe's Paddock, that had previously produced some good early horses. Ellison had had previously had his mares at the Widden Stud nearby. Soon after its foundation Ellison bred Alister at Baramul. Alister went on to win the AJC and VRC Derbys and the Cox Plate. His horses were branded with an image of a barbed tail taken from a Wyvern, the heraldic symbol of his old school, Newington College.[11] From 1951, Star Kingdom, a sire owned by a partnership of Ellison, Stanley Wootton and Reg Moses brought great acclaim to Baramul.[12] In 1984 the stud was purchased by Sir Tristan Antico and is now owned by Gerry Harvey.[13]

Camellias

Ellison was an enthusiastic grower of camellia's and he produced prize-winning stock at Baramul. With Prof. E.G. Waterhouse he arranged displays of camellias at the Macquarie Galleries[14] and David Jones.[15] The camellia japonica A.O. Ellison is named in his honour.[16]

Later life and death

In 1981, before the sale of Baramul, Ellison bought the cattle and horse stud Kilwinning at Scone, New South Wales.[17] He had married Nancy Shearston in 1928 and she predeceased him in 1982.[18] Ellison died at Kilwinning on 12 June 1987.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "CHARITY DAY IN WIDDEN VALLEY.". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 3 April 1968. p. 11. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Mutual 1:10 par issue.". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 24 September 1971. p. 13. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Governor's Plea For Rural Development.". The Land. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 17 April 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Not For Many Years A Finer Yearling Offer.". The Farmer and Settler. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 4 April 1952. p. 15. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 213
  6. ↑ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) Part 2 – The Lists
  7. ↑ "UNIVERSITY.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 8 March 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Alumni Sydneienses". University of Sydney. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "MEMORANDA.". The Methodist (Sydney). Sydney: National Library of Australia. 2 April 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  10. ↑ Rankin Ellison History Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Turf Talk.". The Sunday Herald. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 18 March 1951. p. 2 Section: Sports Section. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Baramul Stud Est. 1940 Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Tristan Antico 1923-2004 Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "IN THE GARDEN.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 22 July 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "VICE-REGAL VISIT TO EXHIBITION.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 August 1940. p. 3. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Camellia japonica A.O. Ellison Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Google News Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  18. 1 2 The Ryerson Index Retrieved 7 January 2015.
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