Jack Kilfoyle
Encyclopedia
John Augustus Charles Kilfoyle (9 December 1893 – 26 May 1962), known as Jack Kilfoyle, was a pastoralist born in Palmerston, Northern Territory
, a suburb of Darwin
. He is primarily known as a successful owner and manager of land across Australia
, most notably his father's Rosewood station.
, and his native-born wife Catherine. In 1882 and 1883, Tom had led an overlanding party with his relatives, the Duracks and the Byrnes, and established Rosewood station, which extended from the eastern Kimberley region of Western Australia
into the present Northern Territory
. Jack was educated in the early 1900s at Christian Brothers' College in Perth
. Although he had lost the sight in one eye as the result of an insect bite that became infected, he proved an excellent athlete. On his father's death in 1908, he inherited a share in Rosewood. Jack worked on the property from 1915 and took over its management in March 1922.
& Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Co. (Australasia) Ltd., he put his profits into improving the property by fencing, paddocking and providing watering-places. A federal board of inquiry into land policy in 1937 praised Kilfoyle's thorough management and close supervision of Rosewood.
and in 1947 he sold Rosewood, fully stocked, for well over $100,000. He established a trust of some $15,000 for the Aborigines
on his property, then moved with his wife to Sydney
and then Melbourne
. His collection of Australian stamps was to be valued at $60,000 in 1961. The Kilfoyles moved to Berkeley Square
, London
, in1952 but returned to Perth in 1961. Kilfoyle died of emphysema and bronchitis on 26 May 1962 in Perth and was buried in a cemetery in Karrakatta, Western Australia
.
Palmerston, Northern Territory
Palmerston is a planned satellite city of Darwin, the capital and largest city in Australia's Northern Territory. Palmerston is situated near Darwin Harbour and has an urban population of 23,614 on the 2006 Census night and making it the second largest city in the territory...
, a suburb of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
. He is primarily known as a successful owner and manager of land across Australia
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...
, most notably his father's Rosewood station.
Early life
Jack was the only child of Thomas Kilfoyle, a farmer from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and his native-born wife Catherine. In 1882 and 1883, Tom had led an overlanding party with his relatives, the Duracks and the Byrnes, and established Rosewood station, which extended from the eastern Kimberley region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
into the present Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. Jack was educated in the early 1900s at Christian Brothers' College in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Although he had lost the sight in one eye as the result of an insect bite that became infected, he proved an excellent athlete. On his father's death in 1908, he inherited a share in Rosewood. Jack worked on the property from 1915 and took over its management in March 1922.
Land owner
During the next 25 years, Kilfoyle built a reputation as a successful owner-manager on a medium-sized property of 734000 acres (2,970.4 km²) on what was known as a "big man's frontier," increasingly dominated by companies and absentee proprietors. Having improved his beef Shorthorns with a strain of "milk" bulls acquired from NestlèNestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
& Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Co. (Australasia) Ltd., he put his profits into improving the property by fencing, paddocking and providing watering-places. A federal board of inquiry into land policy in 1937 praised Kilfoyle's thorough management and close supervision of Rosewood.
Legal troubles
In 1932, Kilfoyle was charged with the theft of some part-Devon bulls from the Wyndham Freezing, Canning & Meat Works. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment in a Wyndham jail. At a retrial, the sentence was commuted to a fine. In 1938, he was sued for breach of promise by May Dorothy Hayes, daughter of his father's former partner. She sought damages of more than $15,000 and received about $1,300. Kilfoyle's only comment was reportedly, "Oh dear...these women are expensive."Rich married man
On 23 February 1939, Kilfoyle married Thelma Ada Hope Ryan at St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Perth. His fortunes prospered during World War IIWorld 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...
and in 1947 he sold Rosewood, fully stocked, for well over $100,000. He established a trust of some $15,000 for the Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
on his property, then moved with his wife to Sydney
Sydney
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...
and then Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. His collection of Australian stamps was to be valued at $60,000 in 1961. The Kilfoyles moved to Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is a town square in the West End of London, England, in the City of Westminster. It was originally laid out in the mid 18th century by architect William Kent...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in1952 but returned to Perth in 1961. Kilfoyle died of emphysema and bronchitis on 26 May 1962 in Perth and was buried in a cemetery in Karrakatta, Western Australia
Karrakatta, Western Australia
Karrakatta is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Nedlands and 7 km west of the CBD. Its postcode is 6010. Karrakatta is composed of two distinct areas. The largest is Karrakatta Cemetery, which began service in 1899, with a small industrial area on the south...
.