Obituaries Australia

Colin McDonald, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 19 June 1958

The death occurred in Melbourne on the 16th May of Mr. Colin McDonald, of Lochaber, Mortlake, Vic., a member of a pioneer family of the Mortlake district and a well-known grazier, stock and station agent, and sportsman. He was 69 years of age.

Mr. McDonald, whose great grandfather first settled in the Mortlake district 100 years ago, was born at Mortlake and educated at the Mortlake State School and Hamilton College. Following the death of his father, he and his brother, the late Mr. Archie McDonald, took over the business interests of his father in the firm of McDonald and Brumley, auctioneers. A little later Mr. Brumley retired and the business was carried on under the name of McDonald Bros. for about 20 years. It was then sold to Dalgety and Co. Ltd., but the old name was so prominent that the expression "incorporating McDonald Bros." is still used 20 years later.

With the sale of the family business Mr. McDonald was able to concentrate his attention on his extensive grazing interests. He was a natural lover of stock, and the Hereford-Shorthorn cross cattle he bred were always much admired at Newmarket saleyards, Melbourne. His advice was eagerly sought on all stock and property problems and he was recognised as a sound judge of rural pursuits.

Mr. McDonald's hobby was racing, and during the war years he raced several horses in partnership with his brother. However, his best horse was run in partnership with Mr. George Nicholas—the mare Three Wheeler, who won the Oaks in 1943 and the Newmarket in 1945. Mr. McDonald was a member of all leading Melbourne race clubs, and also of the Mortlake hospital committee, of which he was chairman for some time.

In 1919 he married Miss Bertha Witton, of Melbourne, who survives him. He is also survived by his son Geoffrey, of Moorillah, Mortlake, and daughter Maxine (Mrs. Hooper, Toorak, Vic.).