Obituaries Australia

N. Elder, n.d.

from Pastoralists' Review, 15 May 1911

One by one the old settlers of the Western District of Victoria are passing away. The late Mr. Elder, one of our oldest residents, came out to this country in the year 1850, arriving early in that year by the ship Zimindar with his parents. During his long experience in this country—sixty-one years—he paid several visits to the Old Country, but always returned to the land of his adoption. Mr. Elder and his brother, the late Mr. William Elder, purchased the Kuruc-a-ruc and The Meadows Estates from their father, Mr. John Elder, who had previously bought them from the Messrs. George and David Aitchison, uncles of the late Messrs. Elder. For a number of years the estates were worked in partnership under the style of W. and N. G. Elder. The partnership was, however, dissolved in the year 1887, Mr. N. G. Elder becoming sole proprietor. The Messrs. Elder succeeded in building up a very fine Merino flock, the wool from which has brought high prices both in London and Geelong. They purchased stud rams from the celebrated Ercildoune flock, the property of the late Sir Samuel Wilson, whose sheep were for a long time held in high esteem. Later on Mr. Elder purchased Tasmanian sheep, being one of the first to introduce them to Victoria, and they soon became very popular in that State. The late Mr. N. G. Elder did not enter much into public life, but in many quiet and generous ways he helped on and assisted interests and institutions in his district. He was also among those who worked some years ago to have the present line of railway built between Beeac and Newtown. The late Mr. Elder's two surviving sons, Messrs. John and William Elder, are now carrying on the estates.