Death: 14 May 1940, aged 76 The
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Queensland) 15 May 1940 p18 Death of
Mr. A. McPhie
TOOWOOMBA, Tuesday.—Mr. Alexander McPhie, of the firm of McPhie and Co.,
stock and station agents, Toowoomba, who had been in business for more
than 50 years, died to-night at the age of 76. He was born in New South
Wales, and in 1889 rode from Gunnedah (N.S.W.) to Toowoomba on horseback,
to take over the management of Bacon and Co., stock and station agents. A
few years later he bought the business and changed the name to McPhie and
Co. He was successful in his venture, and branches of the firm were
established in Longreach, Hughenden, Winton, Charleville, Dalby,
Pittsworth, and Oakey. He is survived by two sons, Messrs. Hector
(Toowoomba), Victor McPhie (Dalby), and two daughters, Mrs. L. H. Rutledge
(Wambin, Quilpie), and Mrs. A. P. McWilliam (Alfala, Ley burn). His wife
died in 1917.
Buried: 15 May 1940, in Toowoomba cemetery,
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Alexander's grave is in section CE7-12
block 9 allotment 26.
The headstone reads: In Loving Memory of
Emily Ethel (Binnie)
dearly beloved wife of
Alex. McPhie
Died April 30th 1917, aged 46 At Rest.
Alexander McPhie
Died May 14, 1940,
aged 76 years.
Married: Florence Nell Shanasy on 17
February 1926, in Scots Church, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Townsville
Daily Bulletin (Queensland) 10 March 1926 p6 MCPHIE—SHANASY.
At Scots Church, Melbourne, on February 17, the marriage was
celebrated of Mr. Hector McPhie, of Charleville, Queensland, son of Mr.
McPhie, Toowoomba, and Florence Nell, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. T. Shanasy,
Alma Road, Camberwell. The Rev. W. Borland performed the ceremony. The
bride, who was given away by her father, wore a frock of champagne-tinted
chenille embossed georgette, and a becoming hat of crinoline straw in the
same shade, trimmed with flowers. After the wedding, the bride's parents
entertained their guests, who were all relatives of the bride and
bridegroom, at luncheon. Occupation: Auctioneer with the
company McPhie & Co., Toowoomba The Mythology, Traditions and History of MacDhubhsith
- MacDuffie Clan Volume 4 Part 2 p23 (Earl Douglas MacPhee,
1973) Neil son of Alexander moved to Toowooba,
Queensland, worked for and finally bought out a commission Agency, and
named the company "McPhie and Co." By 1926, Hector son of Neil, became
Managing Director. They sold many hundreds of thousands of sheep, 1,000 to
1,200 horses a month and about 2,000 head of cattle, each fortnight.
During World War II they provided 6,500 pack and saddle horses for the
U.S. Army. Toowooba became known as the largest horse selling centre in
Australia, if not in the world. The Company was purchased by the A.H.L.
& F. Co. of London in 1948, but Hector McPhie is still engaged lit the
business. His son, Alexander Carpendale, has contributed this information.
Queensland
Times (Ipswich, Queensland) 14 August 1948 p4 McPHIE
AND Co. CHANGES HANDS
It is announced by the Australian, Mercantile, Land, and Finance
Co., Ltd., that it has acquired the old-established stock and station
business of McPhie and Co., who conduct operations at Toowoomba, Dalby,
Pittsworth, Oakey, and Bell.
The business of McPhie and Co. was founded by Mr. Alexander McPhie
in 1896 and conducted by him until his death in 1940, when his two sons,
Messrs. Hector K. and Victor A. C. McPhie, succeeded him as partners. For
the past 50 years the firm has operated on the Darling Downs. It is well
known throughout the Commonwealth for the service it has rendered to the
pastoral and agricultural industries. Both Messrs Hector and Victor McPhie
will continue in, their present capacities, and the Australian Mercantile,
Land, and Finance Co., Ltd.. also is taking over the existing staff of the
firm.
It is proposed to trade in the future under the name of McPhie
& Co. Pty., Ltd.
Notes:
Hector raised a herd of stud shorthorns at his homestead at Westbrook in
Toowoomba. Queensland
Country Life 8 February 1951 p8
PROVEN SIRE FOR WESTBROOK
Mr. Hector McPhie, Toowoomba, has purchased Antrim Roan Sultan for the
herd of stud Shorthorns he is getting together at his Westbrook property.
Antrim Roan Sultan (P) sired both Gunnawarra Mountain Queen 10th (P) and
Gunnawarra Maud 15th (P), the two heifers which were bought at the
Brisbane show sales last year by Messrs. Baker Bros, for their Gowrie stud
at 875 guineas and 825 guineas, respectively.
He is a dark roan and proved practically a 100 per cent, dehorner and a
high-class sire at Mr. F. S. Simpson's Gunnawarra stud. He is by Maridon
Sultan (P) (imp. U.S.A.) which sired Antrim Lavender Sultan (P), the
junior champion Poll Shorthorn bull at Sydney in 1946 and subsequently
sold at auction for 750 guineas. Antrim Roan Sultan's second dam is Claret
Sultana 8th (P) (imp. U.S.A.).
Mr. McPhie has acquired a choice, though small, collection of stud cows,
including some from Turanville stud and some from Prospect stud. Antrim
Roan Sultan is a six-year-old and should get good calves from the cows to
which he is to be mated.
Hector was honorary secretary of the Queensland Polo Association Northern Advocate (Whangarei, New Zealand) 7
December 1920 p6
Mr Hector McPhie, hon. secretary of the Queensland Polo Association, has
received advice from Hurlingham, regarding the height of polo ponies. This
is to the effect that a new rule comes into force as from 1st January
next, which limits the height to 15 hands, plus half inch shoes.
Mabel was born in 1912, in Queensland, the daughter of Alfred Charles
Chapple Graham and Mabel Mary Browning Black.
Occupation: Auctioneer
Notes:
Victor served Australia in World War I. He joined the Australian Imperial
Force on 21 August 1916 and embarked with the Field Artillery Brigade from
Melbourne on HMAT Suevic on 21
June 1917. At that time he held the rank of gunner, and was an acting
sergeant. He was aged 19, and his trade was listed as "clerk".
Victor played cricket for Darling Downs, including a match against the
Marylebone Cricket Club in Toowoomba on 8 December 1920, scoring 0 and 2 in
Darling Down's innings defeat.
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