Obituaries Australia

Mr. Charles Forrester, who was conspicuous among Melbourne businessmen and sportsmen for many years, died at his home in Wallace avenue, Toorak, yesterday, after a short illness. Mr. Forrester was born at Janefield, near Melbourne, in August, 1849, and he was educated at Scotch College. He began his commercial career in 1864 with William Montgomery Bell and Co., merchants, in Collins street, between King and William streets. The building which the company occupied still stands. Later he entered the service of the Victoria (now Colonial) Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., but he resigned in 1866 to found with the late Mr. H. Hammill the land and estate agents business of Hammill and Forrester. On the dissolution of the partnership Mr. Forrester continued the business under the title of Charles Forrester and Co. Since 1916 Mr Forrester had been a commissioner of the State Savings Bank. Last March he was appointed deputy chairman of the commission.

In 1886 Mr. Forrester was appointed to the committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club and in 1902 he was elected treasurer, a position which he held until his retirement in 1930. He was then made a vice-president and a life member. Mr. Forrester was a member of the East Melbourne team which won the challenge cup of 1874-1875. At the same time Mr Forrester was a conspicuous footballer. He played with the Melbourne team from 1872 to 1876 and captained it when it won the premiership in 1874. For many years he was a member of the Athenaeum Club, the Victoria Racing Club, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and the Australian Club.

Mr. Forrester's wife died last November. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. One of his sons, Mr. Charles L. Forrester, was associated with him in business; the other, James, is on the land in New South Wales. His daughter is Mrs. James V. Fairbairn, the wife of Mr. Fairbairn M.H.R. The funeral will leave Mr. Forrester's late home at 3.30 p.m. to-day for the St. Kilda Cemetery.