Obituaries Australia

Mr. William Thomson Manifold, of Purrumbete, near Camperdown, Victoria, died at his home last month at the age of 61 years. A member of the well-known family identified with pastoral pursuits in the famous Western District, he was the son of the late Mr. John Manifold, who with his brothers settled at Purrumbete with their stock in 1839. In those days the blacks were troublesome, but they and other obstacles were ultimately overcome, a cottage was built on the shores of Lake Purrumbete, and a squatting license obtained for about 100,000 acres of land. The annual fee payable to the Government for lease of this stretch of country was 3d. per head horses, 1½d. per head cattle, and ½d. per head sheep per annum.

Eventually the property came into the possession of the late Mr. W. T. Manifold when the estate of the late John and Peter Manifold was divided among the former's four sons. He effected numerous improvements, and when the dairying industry and butter export trade became established, devoted the property to catering for this trade. He made a special study of breeding Shorthorn cattle of the milking strain, and did as much perhaps as any stockowner in Victoria towards evolving the dual purpose cow. He was also an enthusiastic and enterprising breeder of Clydesdales. 

The late Mr. Manifold was a typical public school man, who, blessed with this world's goods, was a generous benefactor to Geelong and Ballarat schools. He was chairman of the council of Geelong Church of England Grammar School, where he received his early education. His wife died some time ago, but he leaves a grown-up family of two daughters and three sons.