Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Tuesday 1 May 1923, page 8


HENRY RYMILL.

ACTIVE AT EIGHTY-SEVEN.

Mr. Henry Rymill will attain the eightyseventh anniversary of his birthday to-day. He came to South Australia in October, 1865, by the sailing, ship Caucasian, a ves-sel 0f about 500 tons; after a voyage which lasted four months. He had as fellow

passengers, in addition to his brother (the late Mr. Frank Rymill), Mr. G. Tinline, former manager of the Bank of. South Australia, and his family, and Capt. Allen, who interested himself so much in St. Peter's College. Mr. Rymill was born in London in 1836 (the year of the founda-tion of the Colony) and he is the only survivor of a family of eight. He was educated by a private tutor, and afterwards became, a clerk in a lawyer's office He was induced to come to South Aus-tralia by the representations of his bro-ther-in-law (Mr. J. B. Graham), the Burra mine magnate, whose residence at Pros-pect was long familiarly known as 'Gra-ham's Castle' Although young Rymill and his brother arrived armed with intro-ductions to many leading colonists, they found it impossible to get suitable employ-ment such as they had been led to expect before leaving England. When, after a couple of months, they were becoming rather despondent, they met Capt. Hughes

MR. HENRY RYMILL.

MR. HENRY RYMILL.

(after Sir Walter Watson Hughes) at the house of Mr. A. J. Baker, in Dorsetta ter-race, Flinders street. He offered Henry Rymill a home at Watervale, provided that the would dig his garden for 12/ a week wages, and gave his brother a shep-herding job on the run at Wallaroo, where the famous mines were afterwards dis-covered. The youths, who had never before left their mother's apron strings, gladly accepted the offer of something to do. A few months later Mr. (afterwards Sir) Henry Ayers offered Mr. Rymill a position as book-keeper and cashier of the S.A. Min-ing Association, whose office was at 'Waterhouse Corner.' In 1862' he star-ted business on his own account as a financial agent, and subsequently took his brother, at that time Secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, into part-nership. He married a daughter of Mr. Arthur John Baker, formerly superintend-dent of the fire brigade, and his family consists of five sons and two daughters. Mr. Rymill, in his time, has been connec-ted with the boards of many important ins-titutions such as the Bank of Adelaide, Canowie Pastoral Company, Central Board of Health, Wyatt Benevolent Fund, Ade-laide Milling Company, and The Victoria Insurance Company. Considering his years Mr. Rymill is remarkably vigorous and active, and, as he says, 'has been very free from aches and pains.' He motors to his office every day. He has always held strong views about the administration of the finances of the State, as well as of public institutions. One great idea of his is that every man should be his own exe-cutor, and about 25 years ago he put this idea into force by commencing to divide his estate among his family.