Obituaries Australia

A very well-known Queensland pastoralist, Mr. Norman F. [Frederick] White, of Albilbah Station, Ungo Siding, in the Isisford district, died in Sydney on 2nd July in his 86th year.

He was born at Muswellbrook, N.S.W., on 7th September 1871, the son of Archdeacon William E. and Amelia Una White (nee Cox), both members of pioneer families, and received his early education at the Church of England Boys' School, Newcastle. For a couple of years after leaving school he was secretary to his uncle, Hon. James White, of Cranbrook, but in 1892 he entered the Sydney University and there obtained his Bachelor of Engineering degree.

His first position as a qualified engineer was with the Metropolitan Water Board, Sydney, but after a few years he joined the staff of the Mt. Morgan (Q'land.) Gold Mining Co. Ltd. and in 1907 was appointed Chief Engineer. When the Mt. Morgan Company was reorganised in 1913 Mr. White resigned and took over the management of Warrandaroo, Muttaburra, Q., which he had bought two years before in partnership with the late Edward Hempenstall. Operating under the name of N. F. White and Co., the company sold Warrandaroo in 1924 and purchased Albilbah from the Macansh Estate. Mr. White continued as managing partner and under his control the sheep and wool on the property improved to such an extent that now it is recognised as having one of the best flocks in Queensland. He handed over the management of Albilbah to his son, David, in 1945 and retired to the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill.

All his life the late Mr. White was interested in public affairs. While at Mt. Morgan he was instrumental in establishing a technical college, and later served on the Longreach Shire Council. He was associated with Sir Fergus McMaster, Sir Hudson Fysh, and others in founding Qantas, being one of the original directors and only relinquishing that position when the headquarters was moved from Longreach to Brisbane. He was also prominent in the United Graziers' Association, being a vice-president and on the executive for some years, and had been president of the Muttaburra Amateur Race Club.

Mr. White's sporting record was impressive. He was a triple blue—rowing, cricket, and football—at Sydney University, and rowed for New South Wales as well. He played tennis and cricket until in his late 60's and was a foundation member and patron of the Bellevue Hill Bowling Club, being an active player until a few weeks before his death.

In 1901 Mr. White married Marion Charlotte, daughter of Theodore Horton, of Adelaide, and he is survived by his widow, two sons—N. R. (Bob), an engineer with the Victorian State Electricity Commission, and David, of Albilbah—and two daughters—Laura, of Sydney, and Una (Mrs. R. Wilkin Smith), of Mermaid Beach. He also leaves a brother, Percy, and sister, Elinor, both of Sydney.