Obituaries Australia

George Richmond, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 18 June 1957

Major George Mitchell Richmond died at sea on 18th of last month on his way home to Kincairney, Murthly, in Perthshire, Scotland. The ship in which he and his wife were travelling was due to reach England the next day. Major Richmond had been on one of his periodical visits to his Mogila Station, near Goodooga, N.S.W., and on the morning of his departure from Sydney (18th April) he called at our office to say goodbye and recall old associations with the Pastoral Review in its early years. It was a gracious gesture, but only in keeping with a considerate and friendly nature that endeared him to all with whom he came in contact throughout a lifetime of useful achievement.

Born at Toorak, Melbourne, in 1883, and educated at Harrow and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, England, George Richmond joined the Black Watch and saw active service as a commissioned officer at the Boer War at the age of 18. He resigned from the army in 1906 and returned to Australia to engage in pastoral activities in association with his father, the late James Richmond, who owned Haddon Rig, Warren, and was a partner with Mr. S. E. Scott in Gingie Station, Walgett. After jackerooing on Haddon Rig, Puen Buen, and Bogamildi, followed by a term of management of the latter station near Warialda, Major Richmond purchased Mogila Station in 1909 and four years later laid the foundations of the Mogila Merino stud, which became and remains an important factor in the sheep breeding industry. He established this stud with breeding ewes from Gingie which were practically pure Haddon Rig blood, and never have any other stud sires been used than those purchased regularly from Haddon Rig. During his visit to Mogila in April he and his son James went over to Haddon Rig and purchased another top sire for 2700 gns.

At the outbreak of the first world war in August 1914 Major Richmond set out from Mogila on an old motor bicycle (which he sold on arrival at Brisbane to Lt.-Col. Frank Weir for £30) and sailed for Scotland to rejoin the Black Watch Regiment. He was twice seriously wounded in action in France, but recovered and in due course resumed the management of Mogila. He did not feel able to acquire Haddon Rig, which his lather had offered to him, and this property together with its stud was sold in 1916 to the late Mr. Franc B. S. Falkiner, father of the present owner.

Major Richmond in 1918 married Miss Grizel Wilson, only daughter of Colonel G. T. B. Wilson, D.S.O., of Stirling, Scotland. They made their home, at Mogila and had a family of four daughters and one son. Three of the daughters are married and living in Great Britain, and the other, Jean, is married to Lt.-Col. J. M. Macdonald, M.B.E., of Wallabadah.

The only son, Mr. James Richmond, who was born at Mogila in 1921 and educated at Harrow, fought with the Black Watch Regiment in the 1939-45 War. He returned to Mogila, assuming the management of the property and stud in 1951, and will continue to control this establishment under the current name of G. M. Richmond and Son.

Some three years after he and his wife went home to Scotland in 1935 the late Major Richmond's mother died at her residence, Kincairney, and this lovely Scottish home in Perthshire became their permanent residence, from whence they journeyed at intervals to Australia.

A world-wide circle of loving friends will mourn the passing of a great and gallant gentleman, to whom and to whose late father the pastoral industry of New South Wales must forever be greatly indebted.