Obituaries Australia

Mr William Stewart Findlay, late general manager of the Mutooroo Pastoral Co., South Australia, and a director of the Milo Pastoral Co., Queensland, died at the Burnside Memorial Hospital, S.A., last month. He was 71 years of age and throughout his life had been closely associated with practical station management and sheep husbandry.

Mr. Findlay spent his early years on Burta Station, adjoining the famous Mutooroo, gaining experience under his father, the manager of Burta, and from 1909 to 1913 he worked at Mutooroo under the late Andrew Smith, who had managed the property from the time it was owned by the late Peter Waite and Sir Thomas Elder in partnership. He then went to Lilydale, one of the properties run by the Mutooroo Pastoral Co., and managed it until the death of Andrew Smith in 1924, when he became general manager of the company. About three years ago he retired, but prior to handing over to his son he arranged publication of an outstanding book, Mutooroo -50 Years After, which not only recorded the early history of the station, but provided what has been described as a text book on pastoral management in a low rainfall area. Mr. Findlay was also for many years inspector for the Milo Pastoral Co., which has properties near Charleville, Q., and in 1944 he was appointed to the board of directors of the company.

The late Mr. Findlay's wife and elder daughter predeceased him, and he was survived by his younger daughter, Mrs. A. Germein, of Port Vincent, and his only son, Mr. W. J. Findlay, assistant general manager of Mutooroo since 1936, and general manager since his father's retirement.