Obituaries Australia

Late Mr Hugh Hamilton

On the evening or Thursday, April 2, Mr. Hugh Hamilton, formerly chairman of directors of Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd., died in Melbourne after a long illness. He had retired under thc company's annuity plan on October 1, 1939, mainly on .account of ill-health. It was a sad coincidence that a former colleague and close associate of many years—Mr. H. C. Cornforth—died less than a fortnight previously.

Mr. Cornforth had been chairman of the company from 1920 till his retirement in 1!)35, and for ll of these years Mr. Hamilton was deputy chairman. Mr. Hamilton was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and he came to Australia as a young mnn in the year 1900. He found this country a land of opportunity. He was not long here before he joined the Vacuum Oil Company as a clerk in thc Brisbane office. His promotion was rapid.

In 1903 he was sent to Wellington as chief clerk, and three years later he was general manager for New Zealand. He served in this position with such distinction that in 1913 ho was transferred to Melbourne as assistant to the managing director, and as general manager for Victoria and Tasmania. Mr. Hamilton was elected to the board of directors in 1915. In 1924 he became deputy chairman, and early in 1938 chairman of the board.

During his 38 years active association with Vacuum Oil, Mr. Hamilton saw a huge expansion in thc company's activities, and he personally played a very big part in thc necessary planning, organising and directing. He was ono of the outstanding figures in the oil industry in this part of thc world. Mr. Hamilton leaves a widow and two married sons—Ian, who is attached to thc head office of Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd., and Kenneth, who is in business for himself.