Obituaries Australia

John Christian, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 August 1918

Mr. John Bassett Christian died early last month in Sydney, aged 79. His health had been failing for some time, though up to the last he kept in touch with his many business connections. Mr. Christian was born in Exeter, Devon, England, his father being one of the earliest New South Wales colonists, purchasing Walhallow Station from Mr. John Eales, of Duckenfield. This station was afterwards held by the sons, John and William, as well as Tenterfield Station, which was afterwards sold to the trustees of the late Thomas Walker. Walhallow was also sold, owing to the death of the brother William. Mr. Christian afterwards invested, with his uncle, in the Broadsound district, Q., purchasing Willangie Station, which now belongs to the Beak Pastoral Company Limited; also in Brindingabba (N.S.W.), Walhallow Downs (Northern Territory), and Maranoa (N.S.W.), and later, with his cousin, in Springfield (Q.). After the death of the latter he went into partnership with his sons, who purchased his cousin's interest in Brindingabba, Maranoa, and Springfield, the firm now being known as Christian and Sons. Mr. Christian was one of the first directors of Messrs. Pitt, Son and Badgery and Messrs. Tooth and Co., and later became a director of the Pastoral Finance Association and the Sydney Meat Preserving Company, and practically died in harness. He married a daughter of the late Mr. Skinner, a well-known Sydney merchant, and by his marriage had seven children, three sons and four daughters. His sons are: Mr. Stanley Christian (manager of the Australian Agricultural Company), Mr. Alfred Christian (who manages the station properties), and Lieut. Bassett Christian (now serving in France). One of his daughters married the late Captain N. Morris. Another married (and predeceased) her cousin, General Christian, who did so well with the Australian Army in France, whilst the youngest, Mrs. E. A. Antill, who married the late Major Antill, is well known for her untiring devotion to the Red Cross and War Chest movements in Sydney.