Obituaries Australia

Henry Harrowell, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 June 1921

It is with very great regret that we record the death of Mr. Henry Harrowell in Sydney at the end of last month. His passing removes a pioneer, who in the course of a long life, by his sterling qualities, his enthusiasm, uprightness and lenient judgment, which always thought the best of all men, gained the affection and regard of all those who were given the privilege of his friendship. As a pioneer in the extension of the present great business of Messrs. William Cooper and Nephews, he came into close touch with many men engaged in the pastoral industry in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, and those who knew him in those early days and the men who were the friends of his later life will alike regret to hear of his death.

Born at Epsom, Surrey (Eng.), in 1846, he studied law, and entered his brother's office in London. On the latter's death he took up journalistic work in India and America, and later entered the service of Messrs. Cooper and Nephews, this being some fifty years ago. In his early connection with the firm he travelled all over the United Kingdom, and then went through South Africa, South America and North America. He was a great enthusiast and a wonderful worker, and the pioneering work he did for Coopers in those countries was mainly instrumental in the building up of their big business there.

In later years Mr. Harrowell took over the supervision and control of the Australian business, living here for a while and then taking charge of the New Zealand business. He then settled down in the Dominion, but at the same time supervised matters in Australia, travelling to and fro between the two countries continuously. Eventually a branch house was established in Australia, and Mr. Harrowell then devoted his time entirely to New Zealand, but he gradually dropped active work, and control was taken over in Auckland by his son, Mr. Shirley Harrowell. Another son, Roland, is managing director of William Cooper and Nephews (Australia) Limited. The late Mr. Harrowell, in the course of his pioneering work, acquired—and retained to a remarkable degree—a very wide knowledge of men and countries. He had a wonderful memory for faces, facts and places, and his reminiscences, clear, distinct and told in a most interesting manner, always irresistibly held the attention. He placed the very greatest value on friendship, and himself was the staunchest of friends. He leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters. His youngest son, Reginald, who served in Palestine during the war, died a few months ago.