Obituaries Australia

Robert Alfred Stock

Adelaide Observer, 12 March 1904, p 24

THE LATE MR. R. A. STOCK.

Mr. Robert Alfred Stock, managing director of the South Australian Brewing Company, who had been lying ill at his residence at Mount Lofty for about two months, died early on Monday morning. The deceased gentleman was born in Clifton, England, in 1846, and arrived in South Australia 54 years ago. When seven years old he was taken back to England, and educated at the Bluecoat School until his fifteenth year. His education was completed at Weston, near Bristol. Subsequently he went into the wine and spirit business, and gained a large experience in two leading firms at Bristol. On returning to Adelaide he first entered the service of the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank, but after a while joined Mr, (now Sir) E. T. Smith at the Kent Town Brnewery, where his ability and business knowledge soon gained him the position of manager. At the time of Sir Edwin's retirement Mr. Stock practically directed the large concern. It was mainly through Mr. Stock's instrumentality that the amalgamation of the Kent Town and West End Breweries, and the wine and spirit trade of Rounsevell and Simms was brought about the South Australian Brewing Company thus formed has since been successfully carried on under Mr. Stock's able management. The late gentleman was twice married. His widow is a daughter of the late Sir John Morphett.