Obituaries Australia

Norman Murray, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 18 December 1957

Mr. Norman Robert Murray, who died at his Southport home on 30th October, was most prominently associated with many sides of the pastoral industry in Queensland for 46 years.

The late Mr. Murray was born at Rockhampton on 5th February 1888, the youngest son of John and Margaret Murray, and was educated at Rockhampton and then at Brisbane Grammar School from 1899 to 1902. His first job was as a junior town traveller with the well known Brisbane firm of Brabant and Co., but he shortly afterwards joined New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co. Ltd. in Brisbane and trained as a wool-classer. He eventually became a wool valuer on the staff and was on the verge of going home to Bradford to further his wool studies when, at the age of 23, his father persuaded him to take over the management of Beaconsfield, Ilfracombe. Beaconsfield at that time had been purchased from the Fairbairn interests with Delta North, Barcaldine, and was in two leaseholds of a total area of 208 sq. miles.

Mr. Murray remained as manager of Beaconsfield till 1928, when he bought out the interests of other members of his family in Beaconsfield and Delta North and a few years later he and his brothers bought Jessievale, Quamby, from Chaplain Bros. Messrs. Campbell Murray and Gavin Murray were the brothers associated with him in this venture. Shortly afterwards he purchased their interests in this property which he held till about 1950 when he sold it to W. L. Buckland, of Melbourne.

Some years before this Mr. Norman Murray took over Mt. Watson, Blackall, from another brother, Roy, and held this till it was sold in 1937. Other grazing interests Mr. Murray had were in the cattle selections at Alpha—Violet Grove, Tullamore, Gadwall, and Lamorbey.

He was one of the original guarantors of Qantas, a foundation director of the Longreach Printing Co. Ltd., a member of the Queensland, Brisbane, Tattersalls, and Longreach Clubs and the Q.T.C., and was a life member of the Royal National Association, Brisbane. His principal business interest outside the administration of his pastoral properties was as a director of the Queensland Primary Producers Co-operative Association Ltd. He occupied a seat on the board of the association from its foundation till his passing.

As treasurer of the Graziers' Association of Central and Northern Queensland for several years, he laid down the principles and methods which are still in use in that organisation. He was also a member of the C. and N. executive and had terms as a U.G.A. executive member.

In his younger days Mr. Murray was a keen and much better than average footballer, having been well trained in that cradle of Rugby Union—Brisbane Grammar. He was also a keen polo player.

He married in August 1918 Miss Everill Rens Cory, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cory, of Longreach, and she with their three daughters and one son survive him—Mrs. Gordon Taylor, Pymble; Mrs. Graham Laurence, of Wahroonga; Mrs. Ranald Chandler, Delta North, Barcaldine; and Mr. Peter F. C. Murray, who is managing Beaconsfield—his family being the fourth generation of Murrays to reside there.