Obituaries Australia

Mr. John Gilchrist, whose death occurred yesterday, was a member of one of the oldest families in New South Wales. He was the third son of Mr. John Gilchrist, who in 1828 founded the firm of Gilchrist and Alexander, later Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., and subsequently merged into Gilchrist, Watt, and Sanderson.

From its inception the firm has always been largely interested as owners and agents in the shipping trade of Australia.

Born at Greenknowe, Macleay-street, Sydney, in September, 1847, Mr Gilchrist went to England with his parents when a child, and was educated at Harrow. He returned with the family in 1867, and in 1875 joined Gilchrist, Watt, and Co. After retiring from the firm of which he was a partner for seven years, he commenced business on his own account as a merchant and importer. At this period he resided at Ercildoune, Elizabeth Bay. In 1892 he became a stockbroker, and for about 14 years was a member of the Sydney Stock Exchange. For the last 20 years Mr Gilchrist had been living in retirement.

Mr Gilchrist took a prominent part in aquatics up till 1890. He was one of the original members of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and raced the yachts Ella and Meteor. He was also one of the oldest members of the Union Club, having joined in October, 1868. One of his vivid recollections was the shooting of the Duke of Edinburgh at Clontarf in 1868. He was at the picnic, and was one of those who rushed to the Duke's assistance. Mr Gilchrist was one of the oldest parishioners of St John's, Darlinghurst, having first attended that church in 1875. He was married in April of that year to Miss Emily Clara Chisholm, daughter of Mr J. W. Chisholm, of Wollogorang, Goulburn. Mrs Gilchrist died in 1912 and Mr Gilchrist is survived by two sons—Mr W. Eric Gilchrist (Colonial Sugar Refining Co), and Mr E. Douglas Gilchrist (Sheller Bovill (Aust), Ltd), and two daughters—Mrs T. R. Donkin, of Moss Vale, and Miss Clare Gilchrist, of Carnarvon, and also his sister, Mrs Phillips, of London, and five grandchildren. The eldest son, Mr Harold Gilchrist, was accidentally killed in Queensland in 1918.

The funeral will take place on Monday afternoon at Waverley, after a service at St John's Church, Darlinghurst, commencing at 2.30 pm.