Essington Lewis was born in Burra, South Australia on 13 January 1881. His father was the pastoralist and politician John Lewis (1844–1923), founder of Bagot, Shakes & Lewis. He was named after Port Essington, where his father owned a
cattle property. He was educated at St. Peter’s College, Adelaide and the South Australian School of Mines.
After joining Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd (BHP) in 1904, he rose through the company ranks to become General Manager in 1921 (equivalent to CEO), later known as Managing Director in 1926 and Chairman in 1950, a position he held until his death in 1961. For the whole of his period as Managing Director, he had a close working relationship and personal friendship with Chairman of Directors Harold Gordon Darling (1885–1950).
During his travels to Germany and Japan in the 1930s, he realised the threat of these countries to Australia. Accordingly, he helped establish the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and many munitions facilities meaning Australia was better prepared for industrialisation when the war started in 1939. During World War II, he also served as Director-General of the Department of Munitions. He supported the establishment of the motor car industry in Australia in 1948, being rewarded by being able to purchase the first commercially produced Holden 48/215.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) on 24 September 1943.
In 1910, he married Gladys Rosalind Cowan, OBE, the only daughter of James Cowan. Their family consisted of five children – sons James Essington and Robert Brook, and daughters Helen, Mary and Jane. Two other children, David and Jeanette, did not survive childhood. His sons were educated at Geelong Grammar School and the daughters at the Clyde School. The family lived in Malvern and South Yarra in Melbourne and owned a country property named “Landscape” near Tallarook in central Victoria.
He died while riding his horse on his property “Landscape” near Tallarook on 2 October 1961, aged 80. His daughter Mary, was riding with him at the time.
Source:
Wikipedia contributors, “Essington Lewis”, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essington_Lewis (accessed March 03, 2015).
Text reused under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Documents
Awards & Honours
Attached are a collection of Awards, Honours & Recognitions that Essington Lewis received during his lifetime including the Silver Jubilee Medal, the Coronation Medal and Honorary Doctorates in Law and Science.
Newspaper & Magazine Articles
Attached are a collection of newspaper & magazine articles from the time of Essington Lewis’ death including the address from Archbishop J. J. Booth at his funeral. Also included are various sympathy cards, photographs, obituaries and the Auction notice for his property “Landscape” in Tallarook.
His Death
Attached are the sympathy letters and telegrams that Essington Lewis’ family, friends and colleagues received after his death on 2 October 1961. Many of the telegrams have been edited to make the ageing text legible.
Photographs
Photo galleries
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- Benacre, family home in Adelaide
- Rolls Royce we used to have
- Benacre, Adelaide, home of the Hon John
- Paxton cottages purchased in 1913 by the Hon. John Lewis MLC, purchased the cottages from the SA Mining Association for £500. His stated philanthropic purpose was ‘to present Paxton Square to the town for the use of indigent and deserving people’ – adding the proviso—’who did not get drunk’. He hoped the Burra Town Council would become the nominal owners, offering a further £500 to cover immediate repairs, to sweeten the deal, but it refused. A Trust was established to manage the properties and a member of the Lewis family was a member of the Trust. The ministers of religion of the town decided the suitability of the tenants. No profits were to be made, with all income used for renovation.
- Essington Lewis, Jim, Gladys, Normo and The Hon John
- Gladys with Jim, Bob, Helen & Mary
- Gladys Lewis with all five of her children who lived to adulthood
- Helen & Mary
- Helen & Mary with
rocking toy
- Mary and Helen with nanny?
- Mary, Helen, Jane & Bob as young children
- Going to the Derby
- Essington & Glad with family at Landscape
- Helen, X, Betty Clarke, Mary, Michael Clarke
- Essington Lewis & Gladys Cowan wedding group
- Gladys Rosalind (back row 2nd from right) with brothers and wives?
- Gladys Rosalind Lewis (nee Cowan)
- "Landscape" Tallarook
- "Landscape" Back lane Back drive. Stables & machinery shed
- "Landscape" Back lane Back drive. Stables & machinery shed
- Aerial photo of Landscape and hills behind
- Front of house taken from front lawn
- Landscape
- Landscape 1958, September, Reg Newton's
- Landscape 1958, September, Reg Newton's
- Landscape Shed Paddock
- Landscape, Port Kembla
- TBC
- Benacre, Adelaide, home of the Hon John
- Paxton cottages purchased in 1913 by the Hon. John Lewis MLC, purchased the cottages from the SA Mining Association for £500. His stated philanthropic purpose was ‘to present Paxton Square to the town for the use of indigent and deserving people’ – adding the proviso—’who did not get drunk’. He hoped the Burra Town Council would become the nominal owners, offering a further £500 to cover immediate repairs, to sweeten the deal, but it refused. A Trust was established to manage the properties and a member of the Lewis family was a member of the Trust. The ministers of religion of the town decided the suitability of the tenants. No profits were to be made, with all income used for renovation.
- Mary on Mac
- Family enjoying the pool at Landscape.
In the pool - Sandy Nevile with 2 girls. Sittin on edge of pool unknown. Seated - Colin Swan, unknown boy, older lady unknown, Jane Nevile, Molly Webb and unknown lady.
- Mary Lewis taken with Mickey. Lanscape, Tallarook, VIC
- Going to the Seymour Show
