Obituaries Australia

Benjamin Macdonald, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 November 1920

A well-known figure in the Australian shipping world passed away in Brisbane on the 16th ultimo in the person of Mr. Benjamin Wickham Macdonald, senior managing partner of the firm of Macdonald, Hamilton and Co. His death was very sudden, and came as a shock to his large circle of friends. Born in Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, in 1853, he commenced his business career in the office of a solicitor, but at the age of 19 he became connected with shipping interests in the office of Messrs. A. and J. Inglis, shipbuilders, Glasgow, remaining with that firm for about seven years. After a few years spent in India, he joined the staff of Messrs. Mackinnon, Mackenzie and Co., managing agents for the B.I.S.N. Co. Ltd., at Calcutta. Leaving India for health reasons he went to Brisbane, and became associated with the old A.S.N. Co., which was subsequently absorbed by the A.U.S.N. Co., and later on managed the company's branch at Adelaide. Returning to Brisbane in 1900, he was appointed general manager of the British-India and Queensland Agency Company Ltd. In 1915 the firm Macdonald, Hamilton and Co. took over the business formerly carried on by the B.I. and Q. A. Co. Ltd. The other members of the firm are Mr. David Hamilton, who is at present in England, Mr. A. G. Wesche, of Sydney, Mr. G. J. Murray Sim, of Sydney, Mr. Lewis Plummer, of Sydney, and Mr. W. A. Mackay, of Rockhampton. Mr. Macdonald was a man of strong personality, of great tact, and deeply sympathetic temperament, and he had a wide circle of friends, who valued him for his fine character and high integrity in all his dealings. He was the most prominent figure in shipping circles on the Australian coast, and was regarded as the king of the interstate shipping trade. He is survived by a widow, four daughters and a son.