Obituaries Australia

T. M. Hamilton, n.d.

from Pastoralists' Review, 16 March 1908

Mr. Thomas Mcknight Hamilton, of Ensay, Gippsland, whose death took place on 26th December last, was much respected in the neighbourhood and throughout Gippsland. He was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1843, and belonged to a well-known Highland family. He came to Australia in 1860, and went on to Dunmore Station, in the Western District of Victoria, which was then owned by his uncle, Mr. C. Macknight, in partnership with Mr. James Irvine. In 1872 he went as manager of Drysdale and Luflope Stations for the late Mr. William Rutledge, of Farnham Park, near Warrnambool, which position he held for six years, and then in 1878 he rented Snakey Creek, near Macarthur, from the late Mr. Gleeson. In 1883, in conjunction with the late Mr. James Irvine, he purchased Ensay Station, on the Tambo River, in East Gippsland, where he lived till the time of his death. He was three times president of the Omeo Shire, and five times president of the Omeo Agricultural and Pastoral Society. In 1900 he opposed Mr. William McCulloch for a seat in the Upper House, and was only beaten by a very small majority. For several years he judged the Shorthorn cattle at the Melbourne Royal Agricultural Show, and was also a recognised good judge of horses of all breeds. For many years the Ensay cattle and horses were famous through the whole of Gippsland, and now the sheep are well known and sought after by southern fatteners. He was the first man to introduce shearing machines into Gippsland. He was a keen yachtsman, having been brought up to it in Scotland, and spent a great part of the last few years of his life on the Gippsland Lakes, where he met his death from heart failure while sailing in his boat. In 1872 he was married to a daughter of the late Mr. William Rutledge, of Farnham Park, and leaves a grown-up family of four sons and two daughters. His wife also survives him.