Obituaries Australia

Frederick Winchcombe, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 July 1917

The pastoral and business communities of eastern Australia, and particularly New South Wales, were painfully shocked and grieved at the end of last month by the news that Mr. Frederick Earle Winchcombe, M.L.C., and head of the firm of Winchcombe, Carson Limited, had died in India from acute pneumonia and heart trouble, contracted through immersion and shock when the R.M.S. Mongolia was sunk in the Indian Ocean.

The late Mr. Winchcombe was born in Victoria sixty-two years ago. He was the second son of John Phillomore Winchcombe, an English barrister, who was appointed first Gold Commissioner for Victoria. The Winchcombe family came to New South Wales in the early bushranging days, residing in the districts of Yass and Young. The late Mr. Winchcombe was educated at Christ Church School, Sydney, and commenced his commercial life with the firm of Mort and Co. when a boy, winning promotion to the position of wool-buyer. After about twenty years' service with the firm and upon its amalgamation with Goldsbroughs, of Melbourne, he severed his connection with it, and, with Messrs. Carson, Wallace, and Turton, founded the firm of Winchcombe, Carson and Co., which holds a high position in the commercial world to-day. At the time of his death Mr. Winchcombe was chairman of the directors of the company.

When war broke out he was president of the Chamber of Commerce, and started the War Food Fund, being largely instrumental in the success to which the fund attained. He was also a director of the A.M.P. Society and the Ruthven Pastoral Company, of Queensland, and took a prominent part in the affairs of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales.

The late Mr. Winchcombe took a great interest in charitable work during his life, and was also largely interested in politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1900, but pressure of business compelled him to resign in 1905. Later, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. He took a great interest in the pastoralists of New South Wales and Queensland, and was always willing at any time to bring forward measures in both Houses of Parliament that might be of benefit to them.

The late Mr. Winchcombe left Sydney early in January last for England to see his two sons, who are on active service in France. He leaves a widow, two sons, and two daughters. A memorial service was held on Sunday, the 8th inst., at St. Mark's Church, Darling Point, Sydney, at which a very large number of his personal friends and the whole of the staff of Winchcombe, Carson Limited attended.