Obituaries Australia

James Manifold, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 November 1918

Very deep and widespread regret was felt last month when news was received of the death of Mr. James Chester Manifold, of Talindert, Camperdown, Victoria, and member for Corangamite in the House of Representatives. He had been in England, where he was engaged in investigation of matters of a military nature for the Commonwealth Government, and on his way home was taken ill after leaving San Francisco, his death eventually occurring at sea from pneumonia supervening on influenza.

The late Mr. Manifold was the son of Mr. John Manifold, and was born on the family estate of Purrumbete, near Camperdown, in 1867. He was thus only fifty-one years of age, and the country suffers a great loss by his death in the prime of life, a man who was the best possible type of politician, broadminded, straightforward, and having at heart those interests with which he was himself so closely connected, and for which he was so well qualified to fight in Parliament.

Mr. Manifold was educated at the Geelong Church of England Grammar School, and later at the Melbourne Grammar School. On leaving school he returned to Camperdown, and eventually became the owner of Talindert. A considerable portion of the property was leased by him, and he subsequently enabled the lessees to acquire the freehold on most generous terms. He endeared himself to his employees, whom he treated with the utmost consideration, paying them the highest wages and making their working and living conditions most comfortable.

He was the successful candidate for the Federal constituency of Corangamite at the first election for the House of Representatives in 1901, but did not seek re-election in 1903, owing to ill-health. At the elections in 1913, however, ample evidence was given that the Corangamite electors considered him a thoroughly sound, conscientious, and strenuous representative for the district by his return at the head of the poll, winning a seat which was universally considered a powerful Labour post, after it was won in 1910 by Mr. Scullin from Dr. J. Grattan Wilson.

Mr. Manifold took a deep interest in the question of the repatriation of the Australian soldiers, and some time ago made available a property of his on the Richmond River (N.S.W.), valued at £30,000, for repatriation purposes. He was also a generous supporter of various charitable and religious institutions.

Talindert is a beautiful property, and when it came into Mr. Manifold's possession in 1890, consisted of 7500 acres. He also owned a fine estate near Lismore, called Gnarpurt, but made his home at Talindert. Mr. Manifold leaves a wife and one son and a daughter. His son, Mr. Chester Manifold, is now at the front.