Obituaries Australia

Thomas Parramore, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 15 July 1913

The death of Mr. Thomas Parramore of Beaufront, Ross, Tasmania, occurred in April last, and the news was received with deep regret by a very large circle of friends. Mr. Parramore's connection with the Merino sheep industry was unique, because the Beaufront stud flock was one of the oldest in the Commonwealth, and it was the source from which many now prominent stud flocks derived their origin. Mr. Parramore's flock deserves special mention in regard to the foundation of the now famous Belle Vue stud, because it was with Beaufront rams and St. Johnstone ewes that the great Sir Thomas flock originated.

Mr. Parramore was the eldest son of the late Thomas Parramore, of Wetmore, Ross, who first came to the colony in 1823. He was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1840, in the same cottage where Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, composed his sonnets. Three years later he came to Tasmania with his father, and mother (who were returning after a sojourn in the Old Land), living at Wetmore until his father acquired by purchase the Estate of Beaufront, at the other side of the Macquarie River. He was educated at the school of Mr. W. R. Hawkes, Franklin Village. On the death of his father, in 1867, he came into possession of Beaufront Estate, and so became the owner of one of the oldest and most famous flocks of Merino sheep in Tasmania.

To this estate he added by purchase some years later the adjoining property of Syndal, and successfully carried on the business of sheepbreeding, until little more than a year before his death, when, on account of failing health, he leased the two estates and stock to his son and brother-in-law, who traded under the name of Parramore and Hutchison. He was a member of the local municipal council for forty-five years, and still held office at the time of his death. He was a Justice of Peace for Tasmania for forty-five years. He married a daughter of the late Rev. James Hutchison, of Malvern, Victoria. Mrs. Parramore survives him, also two daughters. His only son, Ingle Thomas Parramore, predeceased him by a fortnight, Mr. Parramore was a sterling, straight-forward man, and he was esteemed and respected by all classes.