Edward Hallstrom
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward John Lees Hallstrom (25 September 1886 – 27 February 1970) was one of Australia
's best-known philanthropists and businessmen of the mid-20th Century.
, Hallstrom was the eighth of a family of nine children born to William Hallstrom, a saddler from England, and his Australian wife Mary Ann (née
Colless). At the age of 4 his father's farm failed and the family moved to Waterloo, New South Wales
, an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Hallstrom's parents separated, and by the age of 10 he was working, performing a variety of jobs to help supplement the family's income. Largely self-taught (having left school at 13), he applied himself well to both his studies and his work, and eventually took charge of a furniture factory. He later founded a business of his own, manufacturing bedsteads.
Hallstrom met his wife, Margaret Elliott Jaffrey, on a trip to Queensland. She was a talented artist, and shared his enthusiasm for birds and animals. They were married at her parents' home in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm, Queensland
, on 6 April 1912.
, by which time Hallstrom had become interested in the young industry of refrigeration. He set about inventing in his Dee Why backyard, and in 1923 produced his first product, the Icy Ball absorption refrigerator (another kerosene-powered refrigerator, also called the Icy Ball
, was later manufactured in the United States in 1927 or 1928 by Powel Crosley Jr.
). Hallstrom's Icy Ball was a kerosene
-powered chest model, which he designed for use in the Australian outback
, where the low-tech Coolgardie safe
was in widespread use. He initially went to the outback to sell these units himself.
Hallstrom expanded his product line with the development of the popular Silent Knight upright refrigerator. These were gas-powered and also electric
models, and were produced in a factory in Willoughby, New South Wales
under the business name of Hallstroms Pty Ltd. During World War II
the factory manufactured munitions, as well as refrigerators for the use of the United States Army. By the mid 1940s, the factory was producing around 1,200 refrigerators weekly, which were exported as well as sold locally. The "Hallstrom Silent Knight" was a fairly priced, locally produced product at a time (post-war era) when imported refrigerators were very expensive. Their resulting popularity made Hallstrom a millionaire.
, becoming a trustee and later chairman of the zoo. He personally funded the purchase of many large and exotic species from overseas. He established a farm to produce fresh food for the zoo animals, and also set up a fauna reserve on the outskirts of Sydney, later to form part of the Muogamarra Nature Reserve
. His company sponsored a conservation-oriented panel program Nature Speaks from 1947–54 on radio 2GB, compered by John Dease
.
Hallstrom was also generous in his financial gifts to hospitals and medical research centres as well as numerous charities
. His reputation as a philanthropist resulted in his being besieged with requests for financial assistance, and he was known to take personal interest in the many letters and requests he received.
Hallstrom was a member of zoological societies in Sydney (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
), London (Zoological Society of London
) and New York (New York Zoological Society) and was also a member of the Explorers Club and the Royal Australian Historical Society
. He was knight
ed in 1952, and received gold medals from zoological societies in Belgium
and San Diego, California
, as well as an honorary Swedish
knighthood. An unusual first was that he was the first Australian to be named "Father of the Year
", in 1957.
He died at Northbridge, New South Wales
, on 27 February 1970.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's best-known philanthropists and businessmen of the mid-20th Century.
Early life
Born at High Park station, near Coonamble, New South WalesCoonamble, New South Wales
Coonamble is a town on the central-western plains of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Castlereagh Highway north-west of Gilgandra. At the 2006 census, Coonamble had a population of 2,549...
, Hallstrom was the eighth of a family of nine children born to William Hallstrom, a saddler from England, and his Australian wife Mary Ann (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Colless). At the age of 4 his father's farm failed and the family moved to Waterloo, New South Wales
Waterloo, New South Wales
Waterloo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Waterloo is located 4 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.-History:...
, an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Hallstrom's parents separated, and by the age of 10 he was working, performing a variety of jobs to help supplement the family's income. Largely self-taught (having left school at 13), he applied himself well to both his studies and his work, and eventually took charge of a furniture factory. He later founded a business of his own, manufacturing bedsteads.
Hallstrom met his wife, Margaret Elliott Jaffrey, on a trip to Queensland. She was a talented artist, and shared his enthusiasm for birds and animals. They were married at her parents' home in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm, Queensland
New Farm, Queensland
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
, on 6 April 1912.
Inventor
The Hallstroms moved to Dee Why, New South WalesDee Why, New South Wales
Dee Why is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dee Why is located 18 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Warringah Council, and along with Brookvale is considered to be...
, by which time Hallstrom had become interested in the young industry of refrigeration. He set about inventing in his Dee Why backyard, and in 1923 produced his first product, the Icy Ball absorption refrigerator (another kerosene-powered refrigerator, also called the Icy Ball
Icy Ball
IcyBall was a name given to two early refrigerators, one made by Australian Sir Edward Hallstrom in 1923, and the other design patented by David Forbes Keith of Toronto, Ontario, Canada , and manufactured by American Powel Crosley Jr., who bought the rights to the device...
, was later manufactured in the United States in 1927 or 1928 by Powel Crosley Jr.
Powel Crosley Jr.
Powel Crosley, Jr. was an American inventor, industrialist, and entrepreneur. He and his brother Lewis were responsible for many "firsts" in consumer products and broadcasting. He was the builder of the Crosley automobiles. He was the owner of the Cincinnati Reds major league baseball team for...
). Hallstrom's Icy Ball was a kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
-powered chest model, which he designed for use in the Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, where the low-tech Coolgardie safe
Coolgardie safe
The Coolgardie Safe is a low-tech refrigeration unit which uses the heat transfer which occurs during evaporation of water. It was named after the place where it was invented — the small mining town of Coolgardie, Western Australia, near Kalgoorlie-Boulder....
was in widespread use. He initially went to the outback to sell these units himself.
Hallstrom expanded his product line with the development of the popular Silent Knight upright refrigerator. These were gas-powered and also electric
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
models, and were produced in a factory in Willoughby, New South Wales
Willoughby, New South Wales
Willoughby is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Willoughby is located 8 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Willoughby....
under the business name of Hallstroms Pty Ltd. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the factory manufactured munitions, as well as refrigerators for the use of the United States Army. By the mid 1940s, the factory was producing around 1,200 refrigerators weekly, which were exported as well as sold locally. The "Hallstrom Silent Knight" was a fairly priced, locally produced product at a time (post-war era) when imported refrigerators were very expensive. Their resulting popularity made Hallstrom a millionaire.
Philanthropy
Hallstrom directed much of his fortune to the Taronga Park Zoo in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, becoming a trustee and later chairman of the zoo. He personally funded the purchase of many large and exotic species from overseas. He established a farm to produce fresh food for the zoo animals, and also set up a fauna reserve on the outskirts of Sydney, later to form part of the Muogamarra Nature Reserve
Muogamarra Nature Reserve
Muogamarra is a nature reserve New South Wales , on the northern edge of Sydney. It lies between the outer Sydney suburb of Cowan to the south, and the Hawkesbury River to the north. It is closed to the public for most of the year, but opens for 6 weekends each year in spring, when there are...
. His company sponsored a conservation-oriented panel program Nature Speaks from 1947–54 on radio 2GB, compered by John Dease
John Dease
Conly John Paget Dease was a prominent Australian radio presenter and quiz show host in the 1940s and 50s.He was born in Bhamo, Upper Burma, son of an English lieutenant in the 91st Punjabi Regiment...
.
Hallstrom was also generous in his financial gifts to hospitals and medical research centres as well as numerous charities
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. His reputation as a philanthropist resulted in his being besieged with requests for financial assistance, and he was known to take personal interest in the many letters and requests he received.
Hallstrom was a member of zoological societies in Sydney (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
The Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales was formed in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1879 as the New South Wales Zoological Society. A Royal Charter was granted in September, 1908, leading to a change to the current name on 10 February 1909...
), London (Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
) and New York (New York Zoological Society) and was also a member of the Explorers Club and the Royal Australian Historical Society
Royal Australian Historical Society
The Royal Australian Historical Society is a voluntary organisation founded in Sydney, Australia in 1901 to encourage Australians to understand more about their history...
. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1952, and received gold medals from zoological societies in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, as well as an honorary Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
knighthood. An unusual first was that he was the first Australian to be named "Father of the Year
Australian Father Of The Year award
The Australian Father Of The Year award is an Australian award to honor and showcase a fine example of Australian fatherhood. Spanning over fifty years, the ‘Australian Father of the Year’ has been awarded to high-profile, famous fathers, from prime ministers & politicians to sportsmen and business...
", in 1957.
Taronga Zoo
In the latter part of his life Hallstrom was involved in controversy over his concept of the development of the Taronga Zoo, with two state government inquiries criticising his lack of professional training in zoology as well as the extent of his use of concrete in animal enclosures. According to biographer Audrey Tate,He died at Northbridge, New South Wales
Northbridge, New South Wales
Northbridge is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Northbridge is located 7 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Willoughby....
, on 27 February 1970.