Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld. : 1874 - 1954), Tuesday 3 September 1935, page 2


"CATTLE KING" DEAD

OWNER OF 68 STATIONS

SIR SIDNEY KIDMAN

ADELAIDE, September 2.

Sir Sidney Kidman, aged 78, one of the world's greatest pastoralists, died at his home, Eringa, Millswood, to-day, after a brief illness. He had been known for many years as the "Cattle King." He had experience as a station hand, butcher, drover, stockman, bul lock team owner, and station proprie-tor, and his life was characterised by a high degree of enterprise. Sixty eight stations, embracing about 85,000 square miles of country, and carrying about 176,000 cattle and 215,000 sheep, were owned by him. Victoria was the only mainland State in which his in-terests did not extend.

When 14 he set out for the back country, and when in his 'teens was dismissed from Mount Gipps station because he asked for a rise in pay. Before he was 21 a fortune slipped through his fingers, for he sold for £150 a 14th share in the Broken Hill mine, which he exchanged for 10 work-ing bullocks. It was later estimated that his share was worth £1,250,000. However, he became a millionaire be-fore the war, and was knighted In 1921 in recognition of his support of war

work.

For many years he had been a dom-inating figure at the abattoirs cattle market, and was easily the chief seller.

Innamincka, in the far north west of South Australia, was the largest station owned by him, being 10,000 square miles in area. Glenlyle, in Queensland, has the largest carrying capacity, running 20,000 cattle in nor-

mal seasons.

Sir Sidney is survived by his wife and only son, Walter, and three daugh

ters.

Be commenced his career when he set out for the back-country at 14; his sole asset being a horse he bought for 50/-. In later years mail contract formed a large part of his activities, and in one year he and his brother George received £20,000 in mail subsi dies from the Governments of New South Wales, Queensland, West Aus tralia and South Australia. He com menced dealing in land in the early 80's, and gradually extended his hold ings. In 1908 he went to Europe with a commission from the Government to inquire into the meat trade.

His contributions to war time funds included two 'planes, 300 horses, and 100 frozen bullocks. The Inland Mis sion was one of his chief interests, and he was a strong supporter of the Salva tion Army. Fulham Park racing stud, known throughout Australia, has been owned by Sir Sidney for many years.