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Henry Rymill (1 May 1836 – 21 February 1927) and Frank Rymill (27 November 1837 – 26 May 1915) were brothers prominent in business and public service in the 19th century South Australia. Henry "Harry" Rymill and Francis "Frank" Rymill were born in England, sons of Robert Rymill and Louisa (née Sheppard) Rymill of
Shepperton Shepperton is an urban village in the Borough of Spelthorne, Surrey, approximately south west of central London. Shepperton is equidistant between the towns of Chertsey and Sunbury-on-Thames. The village is mentioned in a document of 959 AD ...
, and migrated to South Australia, arriving at
Port Adelaide Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is the main port for the ...
in the ''Caucasian'' on 1 October 1855. Their company H & F Rymill was a prominent financial institution well into the 20th century. Their families included a number of prominent
Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
citizens. Robert (1869–1906), Herbert (1870–1951) and Sidney (1873–1938) also traded as "Rymill Brothers "Rymill Brothers" could also refer to the speedboat racing team of Arthur Graham Rymill (1868–1934) and Ernest Seymour Rymill (1876–1931) – see their notes below. It could also refer to the partnership of cricketer Jack Westall Rymill (1901–1976) and golfer William Seaton Rymill (1909–1987), actually cousins, who ran several sheep and cattle stations.


Henry Rymill

Henry was working as a lawyer's clerk in London when persuaded by brother-in-law J. B. Graham of
Prospect, South Australia Prospect is the seat of the City of Prospect and an inner northern suburb of greater Adelaide. It is located north of Adelaide's centre. Surrounding suburbs include Kilburn, Fitzroy, Medindie and Devon Park. The suburb has boundaries of Main ...
to emigrate to the new colony. Despite numerous letters of introduction, he was unable to find congenial employment and finally at the home of Arthur John Baker (1814Potts Collection, State Library of South Australia
/ref> – 4 July 1900), (Superintendent of the Fire Brigade and his future father-in-law) he was introduced to Captain Hughes (later Sir
Walter Watson Hughes Sir Walter Watson Hughes (22 August 1803 – 1 January 1887),Dirk Van Dissel,Hughes, Sir Walter Watson (1803 - 1887), ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 4, MUP, 1972, pp 440-441. Retrieved 11 August 2009 who before his knighthood wa ...
) who offered him employment as a gardener at Watervale. :A. J. Baker's first wife was Margaretta Emily Potts née Lockett (1810–1890). Her step-sister Anne Potts (28 November 1812 – 14 August 1881) married Henry Ayers, and her step-brother was winemaker Frank Potts. Baker's second wife was Annie (ca.1841 – 30 April 1900). Their son Arthur (ca.1845 – 5 October 1856) was drowned in the
Torrens Torrens may refer to: Places South Australia * Electoral district of Torrens, a state electoral district * Lake Torrens, a salt lake north of Adelaide * River Torrens, which runs through the heart of Adelaide * Torrens Building, a heritage-liste ...
. He soon attracted the attention of
Henry Ayers Sir Henry Ayers (now pron. "airs") (1 May 1821 – 11 June 1897) was the eighth Premier of South Australia, serving a record five times between 1863 and 1873. His lasting memorial is in the name Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru, which was en ...
, who was looking for a bookkeeper and cashier for the
South Australian Mining Association South Australian Mining Association was a no-liability company which established several mines in South Australia, notably the "Grey Wheal", or north mine at Burra, which made a fortune for its promoters, the "Snobs", while the adjacent southern c ...
in the Waterhouse Chambers ("Waterhouse Corner"). In 1862 he decided to go into business for himself and was so successful that around 1865 he took his brother Frank (by then secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands) into partnership. Aside from this business he became *Part-owner and director of Canowie Pastoral Company, a merino sheep stud *Director,
Bank of Adelaide The Bank of Adelaide was founded in 1865 in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It was incorporated by an act of the Parliament of South Australia. The original directors of the company were Henry Ayers, Thomas Greaves Waterhouse, Robert B ...
*Director, Adelaide Milling Company *Director, Victoria Insurance Company *Member, Central Board of Health *Director,
Wyatt Benevolent Fund William Wyatt (1804 – 10 June 1886) was an early settler and philanthropist in South Australia. He was the third interim Protector of Aborigines in the colony between 1837 and 1839, worked on documenting the Kaurna language of the local Aus ...


Family of Henry Rymill

Henry married Lucy Lockett Baker (19 October 1839 – 19 October 1885) at Holy Trinity Church, North Terrace on 10 July 1861. Their children included: *Florence Edith Rymill (2 June 1862 – 10 March 1933) never married. *Harry Esmond Rymill (30 January 1864 – 9 March 1949) was a life member of the
South Australian Jockey Club South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia. First racing events The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, ridin ...
and partner of H. & F. Rymill. *Lucy Isabel Rymill (31 March 1865 – 22 April 1929) married Alfred Austin Lendon MD on 26 August 1889. *Frank Westall Rymill (17 June 1866 – 5 July 1924) married Mary Anna Hayward (9 July 1872 – 25 February 1941) on 14 February 1899. She was the first secretary of the South Australian chapter of the
Country Women's Association The Country Women's Association (CWA) is the largest regional and rural advocacy group in Australia. It comprises seven independent State and Territory Associations, who are passionate advocates for country women and their families, working ...
and prominent in the National Council of Women,
Liberal and Country League Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and ...
, Girton School for Girls and
Mothers and Babies' Health Association Helen Mary Mayo, (1 October 1878 – 13 November 1967) was an Australian medical doctor and medical educator, born and raised in Adelaide. In 1896, she enrolled at the University of Adelaide, where she studied medicine. After graduating, May ...
. She was a noted benefactor, and was awarded the
OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
on 1 January 1941 for her services to the community. Frank managed Winnininnie station near
Broken Hill Broken Hill is an inland mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales, Australia. It is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway (A32) and the Silver City Highway (B79), in the Barrier Range. It is ...
, before retiring to "Bungala House" in Yankalilla, and then Godfrey Street, Leabrook. They had one daughter and three sons, :*Jack Westall Rymill (20 March 1901 – 11 February 1976), a noted cricketer, married Lucie Shanno Walker (1904-1981) on 17 July 1937. He was a captured in
Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...
during World War II and survived as a
POW A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war ...
. Their children included: ::*
Cecily Westall Rymill John Spalvins, (born Jānis Gunnars Spalviņš, 1936) in Latvia, was Managing Director of the Adelaide Steamship Company from 1977 until the company's collapse in 1991. During this period under Spalvins' control, "Adsteam" became Australia's major ...
(1939-1991) married John Spalvins :*Max Hayward Rymill (17 November 1902 – ) married Bernadine Lempriere "Bernie" Reid on 18 December 1940 :*Keith S(eymour) Rymill (2 August 1905 – ), a pastoralist associated with
Bon Bon A bonbon is a small chocolate confection. They are usually filled with liqueur or other sweet alcoholic ingredients, and sold wrapped in coloured foil. Ingredients Through the Western world, bonbons are usually small candies but vary by region ...
, Glen Lyon,
Yardea Yardea Station is a pastoral lease in the Australian state of South Australia that operates as a sheep station, now within the Gawler Ranges National Park. Paney Station became part of Yardea Station in 1904. It is situated approximately nort ...
and Wooling Stations. He was a keen deep-sea fisherman and
clay target Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, is a shooting sport involving shooting a firearm at special flying targets known as clay pigeons, or clay targets. The terminology commonly used by clay shooters often relates to time ...
marksman. :*Madeline Florence "Madge" Rymill ( – 23 June 1950) * Arthur Graham Rymill (9 May 1868 – 10 September 1934) married Agnes Lucy Campbell (1 February 1886 – 22 August 1966) on 7 June 1905. He was a principal of H & F Rymill; chairman of directors, Bennett and Fisher; a director of the Bank of Adelaide,
General Motors Holden Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was an Australian automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter which sold cars under its own marque in Australia. In its last three ...
,
Colton, Palmer and Preston Ltd. Sir John Blackler Colton, (23 September 1823 – 6 February 1902) was an Australian politician, Premier of South Australia and philanthropist. His middle name, Blackler, was used only rarely, as on the birth certificate of his first son. Backg ...
, and Royal Insurance Company; and Executor and managing director of Canowie Pastoral Company, and with his brother Ernest Seymour, owned and successfully raced several hydroplane speedboats named ''Tortoise''. :* (Sir)
Arthur Campbell Rymill Sir Arthur Campbell Rymill (8 December 1907 – 27 March 1989) was a businessman, solicitor and Lord Mayor of Adelaide, South Australia. History Born in Adelaide, the son of businessman Arthur Graham Rymill (9 May 1868 – 10 September 1934) ...
(8 Dec 1907 – 27 March 1989) married Margaret Earle Cudmore (daughter of Roland Cudmore) in 1934; they had two daughters. He was MLC South Australia 1956–75, was on the boards of numerous companies, won the Australasian unlimited Speedboat Championship 1933 in his father's boat ''Tortoise II'' and represented South Australia in Australasian Polo Championships 1938–51. *Herbert Lockett "Cargie" Rymill (19 August 1870 – 28 May 1951) married
Shylie Katharine Blue Shylie Katherine Rymill (''née'' Blue; 16 May 18823 April 1959) was The Girl Guides Association’s South Australia branch state commissioner from 1938 to 1950. She was an accomplished golfer. Biography Rymill was the youngest child of Will ...
(16 May 1882 – 3 April 1959) on 18 September 1906. She was the Girl Guide Association’s South Australia state commissioner from 1938 to 1950, recipient of the
OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
in 1942, and the
Silver Fish Award The Silver Fish Award is the highest adult award in Girlguiding. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding combined with service to world Guiding. The award has changed greatly since it first appeared in 1911, initially being awarde ...
in 1948. "Cargie" helped found the
Royal Adelaide Golf Club The Royal Adelaide Golf Club (often referred to as Seaton) is a private Australian golf club located in the Adelaide suburb of Seaton, northwest of the city centre. The links at Seaton has been the venue for many international and interstate ...
at Seaton in 1902, and planned and founded
Kooyonga Golf Club Kooyonga Golf Club is a private golf club in Australia, located in South Australia at Lockleys, a suburb west of Adelaide. Members entry is off May Terrace, Brooklyn Park. Work on the course started in 1922 and the first nine holes opened on ...
in 1922. :*
Henry Way Rymill Henry Way Rymill CBE (9 October 1907 – 8 January 1971) was The Boy Scouts Association’s South Australian branch chief commissioner from 1936, and was the Royal South Australia Yacht Squadron’s commodore for six years. The Boy Scouts A ...
CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(9 October 1907 – 8 January 1971) was
The Boy Scouts Association The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was form ...
’s South Australian branch chief commissioner from 1936 and was awarded its Silver Wolf Award in 1943. He was Commodore of the Royal SA Yacht Squadron for six years. He was appointed a
CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
in 1949. Henry Rymill married Alleyne Joan Downer (7 May 1906 – c. May 1942) on 26 September 1934. They had three children. Alleyne was a daughter of James Frederick "Fred" Downer LLB (1874 – 29 May 1942) and Florence Way Downer, née Campbell, (1870–1961). :*William Seaton Rymill (12 April 1909 – 12 August 1987), a noted golfer. :*Edward Gordon "Tom" Rymill (11 November 1910 – 16 February 1989), Managed "Balquhidder Station" on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. "Balquhidder Station" was later bought by Mr.
Kerry Stokes Kerry Matthew Stokes (born John Patrick Alford on 13 September 1940) is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. ...
. :*Katherine Lucy Rymill (24 May 1913 – ), a noted golfer and
Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...
worker. *Ernest Seymour Rymill (21 January 1876 – 8 September 1931) shared with his brother A. G. Rymill ownership of the highly successful hydroplanes named ''Tortoise'', and was their mechanic. He was a champion clay target marksman.


Family homes

The family home was "The Firs", East Terrace, Adelaide, now known as Rymill House, with its frontage on
Hutt Street Hutt Street is the easternmost of the five major north–south roads running through the City of Adelaide. It runs from Pirie Street to South Terrace, from where it continues south as Hutt Road. Flanked by leafy side streets with many late 19th ...
. Henry lived there until his death, and his descendants occupied the house until 1950. Also on East Terrace was "East View", home of Lucy Rymill's father A. J. Baker.


Frank Rymill

Frank travelled to Adelaide with his brother Henry. His first job in South Australia was as a shepherd at
Wallaroo Wallaroo is a common name for several species of moderately large macropods, intermediate in size between the kangaroos and the wallabies. The word "wallaroo" is from the Dharug ''walaru'', and not a portmanteau of the words "kangaroo" and "wal ...
. Frank later held various Government positions: *Clerk of the Police Court *Secretary to the Crown Lands Department *Chief Corresponding Clerk in the G.P.O. Other positions he held were: *Chairman of the finance committee of the Royal Agricultural Society, in recognition which he was made a life member. *Chairman of the South Australian Mining Association, which controlled the Burra Burra Mine. *In 1888 a founding director of the
South Australian Brewing Company The South Australian Brewing Company, Limited is a brewery located in Thebarton, South Australia, Thebarton, an inner-west suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is a subsidiary of Lion (Australasian company), Lion, which in turn is owned by ...
Around 1865 he went into partnership with brother Henry.


Family of Frank Rymill

Frank married Anna Gall "Annie" Sanders (4 August 1846 – 25 September 1930), daughter of William Sanders and Harriet (née Carstairs) Sanders, at the
Unitarian Church, Wakefield Street The Unitarian Church of South Australia, Inc., is an independent and self-governed church affiliated with the worldwide Unitarian Universalist movement, a member of the Australia and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association, and an affilia ...
on 1 October 1868. Their children were: *Robert Rymill (7 July 1869 – 14 May 1906) married Mary Edith Riddoch of Yallum, South Australia on 13 March 1902. He was owner of Penola Station, and died near
Hamilton, Victoria Hamilton is a large town in south-western Victoria, Australia, at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway. The Hamilton Highway connects it to Geelong. Hamilton is in the federal Division of Wannon, and is in the Southern ...
as result of a car crash. :*Robert Riddoch Rymill (25 April 1904 – 14 May 1990) married Gladys Edith Hood (10 December 1915 – ) on 23 November 1937. :*
John Riddoch Rymill John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
(13 March 1905 – 7 September 1968), married Eleanor Mary Francis (17 June 1911 – 14 April 2003), 16 September 1938. He was a noted Antarctic explorer and pastoralist of Old Penola Station. *Mary Carstairs Rymill (1 July 1871 – 30 August 1945) married lawyer J. R. Baker, of Glenelg (son of Sir
Richard Chaffey Baker Sir Richard Chaffey Baker (22 June 1842 – 18 March 1911) was an Australian politician. A barrister by trade, he embarked on a successful career in South Australian colonial politics, serving as Attorney-General of South Australia from 1870 to ...
) on 14 October 1905 *Sidney Rymill (6 May 1873 – 3 September 1938), of Somerton. He was on the SAJC committee, was associated with Elder, Smith & Co. and a pastoralist on Wirryilka station. :*Frances Carstairs "Frankie" Rymill (13 May 1915 – 13 October 1992) married Richard George Hawker (11 April 1907 – 12 November 1982) on 31 August 1940. :*Richard Stanley Carstairs "Dick" Rymill (12 September 1917 – 15 July 1997) married Eleanor Emily Brook Melrose (14 March 1917 – 29 October 2004), 25 November 1939. *Adelaide Louisa Rymill (13 July 1876 – 7 September 1938) of Mitcham. *Hettie Elsie Rymill (6 October 1881 – 26 October 1909) of Mitcham. Their home for many years was "Springfield",
Mitcham Mitcham is an area within the London Borough of Merton in South London, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross. Originally a village in the county of Surrey, today it is mainly a residential suburb, and includes Mitcham Common. It ha ...


H. & F. Rymill

Henry and Frank formed a partnership H. & F. Rymill as land agents and financiers around 1863, with offices at Pirie Chambers in
Pirie Street Pirie Street is a road on the east side of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. It runs east–west, between East Terrace and King William Street. After crossing King William Street, it continues as Waymouth Street. It forms the southern ...
. Much of their fortune was made in 1878 when they purchased from William King for £11,000 the lease on part of the land bounded by Pirie Street,
Gawler Place Gawler Place is a single-lane road in the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs north to south from North Terrace to Wakefield Street, parallel to and approximately midway between King William and Pulteney Streets. ...
, McHenry Street, part of town acres 169 and 170 purchased by George McHenry in 1837. :By a quirk of fate and some shrewd dealing and legal wrangling, it was inherited by H & F Rymill in 1896. In 1929, in a move to minimise taxation, the property was divided between the two families: the family of Frank Rymill took Pirie Chambers and the block containing Selborne Chambers and the Selborne Hotel (erected by
Josiah Symon Sir Josiah Henry Symon (27 September 184629 March 1934) was an Australian lawyer and politician. He was a Senator for South Australia from 1901 to 1913 and Attorney-General of Australia from 1904 to 1905. Symon was born in Wick, Caithness, Sco ...
, and later the Adelaide Hotel); and Henry Rymill's family the Exchange Buildings and King's Buildings. In 1879 they helped found a new Stock Exchange with G. Dutton Green as its head, on land known as "King's timber yard" in Pirie Street; they hired
Edmund W. Wright Edmund William Wright (4 April 1824 – 5 August 1888) was a London-born Australian architect, engineer and businessman who was Mayor of Adelaide in 1859. Early life Wright was the third son of Stephen Amand Wright who may have been Master of ...
to design the new building. The company prospered, becoming major investors and landholders in their own right. Their properties included Canowie Station (in which for decades they acted as agents for the absentee owners and eventually held a partial ownership) and Marra Station.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rymill brothers Australian businesspeople Rymill family