Obituaries Australia

Robert Singleton, by Batchelder &​ O'Neill, 1876

State Library of Victoria, 49296430

The death occurred on Sunday morning of Mr. Robert Singleton, formerly chief accountant of the Victorian Railways, at Mount Wise private hospital, Mercer Road, Malvern. The late Mr. Singleton, who was 73 years of age, was the son of the Rev. William Singleton, of the Church of England, and a nephew of the late Dr. Singleton, founder of the Collingwood Free Dispensary. He joined the engineering branch of the Victorian Railways (then associated with the Department of Lands and Works) in February, 1858, in the capacity of field assistant. A few years later he was appointed draughtsman in the engineering accountants' department. On the amalgamation of the engineering accountants' branch with the accountants' branch of the Railways in April, 1893, the late Mr. Singleton was appointed accountant. Six years later he went to England to give evidence in a suit before the Privy Council connected with the construction of a line of railway. He returned on April 30, 1900, and in the following August retired on a pension. Since his retirement he has lived near the top of the Dandenong Ranges, his house commanding a picturesque view of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. During his connection with the Railway service Mr. Singleton made many friends. He was rather reserved in his manner, but those who were intimately connected with him knew him as a fine man, possessed of many sterling qualities. He was most thorough in his work, and anything that he set out to do he accomplished. Of late years he suffered from a weak heart, and owing to the serious nature of his last attack he was removed to the residence of his son-in-law. He was twice married. His widow and a grown-up family by the first wife and a young son survive.