Robert Gibson (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Gibson, GBE
, (4 November 1863 – 1 January 1934) was a Scottish
-born Australia
n businessman, a president of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia.
, Scotland, the third son of John Edward Gibson, metal manufacturer, and his wife Harriette, née Hicks. Gibson was educated at Falkirk High School and joined the Camelon Iron Company, of which his father was managing director, at 15 years of age. In 1883 he was apprenticed to Robert Gardner and Company, Glasgow
, and studied art and design at the Haldane academy.
office. Gibson married Winifred Moore of Glasgow on 22 March 1890 and sailed to Australia the same day, following two brothers. Gibson was a designer and draughtsman for about six years at Melbourne
, and in 1897 established the Austral Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd. Some 10 years later he founded the Lux Foundry Pty Ltd, and held a controlling interest in these companies for the rest of his life. He became very well known in the industrial and commercial life of Melbourne, and during World War I
did valuable work as a member of the coal board in connexion with the rationing of coal, gas and electric power. He was also appointed one of the seven honorary commissioners to administer the repatriation act, and was deputy chairman until the appointment of the permanent commission in 1920. He was chairman of the royal commission on federal economics, and was a member of the Victorian State electricity commission from its inception. He had great confidence in the future value of the works at Yallourn. In 1924 he was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Bank board, was elected chairman in 1926, and was re-elected to that position each year. He was also a director of the Union Trustee Company Ltd., the National Mutual Life Association, the Chamber of Manufactures Insurance Company Ltd., and Robert Harper and Company Ltd. and was a representative or the Commonwealth government in connexion with the Commonwealth Oil Refineries Ltd
. From 1922 to 1925 he was president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures, and also for a time president of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia.
These many interests gave Gibson a remarkable grasp of the financial position of Australia, and before the depression arrived in 1930 he had warned the federal government that difficult times were coming. When the James Scullin
government was endeavouring to grapple with the position, which was aggravated in Australia by the low prices being paid for wool and wheat, various currency devices were brought forward, and Gibson's firm attitude towards E. G. Theodore, the treasurer of the day, eventually made possible the adoption of the premiers' plan. There was some intriguing to displace Gibson from the Commonwealth bank board but these efforts were defeated. On 6 May 1931 he was called before the bar of the senate to give his views on the Commonwealth bank bill. He replied to the many questions asked fully and patiently and with such effect that it was said that the bill was dead before he left the chamber. An experienced reporter described it as the finest performance he had ever seen in parliament. Gibson, while disclaiming any intention that the Commonwealth bank should dictate to the government, was determined that no efforts should be spared to prevent inflation. In this he was successful but he felt the strain and responsibility of these years very much.
Gibson painted in water-colours as a hobby and was a good photographer. Though tactful his sincerity and candour were apparent to all, and his absolute sense of justice led to his being much employed as an arbitrator in industrial disputes. The secretary of one union described him as the whitest man he had met in or out of the Labour movement.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (4 November 1863 – 1 January 1934) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born 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...
n businessman, a president of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia.
Early life
Gibson was born at FalkirkFalkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Scotland, the third son of John Edward Gibson, metal manufacturer, and his wife Harriette, née Hicks. Gibson was educated at Falkirk High School and joined the Camelon Iron Company, of which his father was managing director, at 15 years of age. In 1883 he was apprenticed to Robert Gardner and Company, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and studied art and design at the Haldane academy.
Career
In 1887 Gibson rejoined the Camelon Iron Company as a designer, and was soon appointed manager of its LondonLondon
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...
office. Gibson married Winifred Moore of Glasgow on 22 March 1890 and sailed to Australia the same day, following two brothers. Gibson was a designer and draughtsman for about six years at 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...
, and in 1897 established the Austral Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd. Some 10 years later he founded the Lux Foundry Pty Ltd, and held a controlling interest in these companies for the rest of his life. He became very well known in the industrial and commercial life of Melbourne, and during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
did valuable work as a member of the coal board in connexion with the rationing of coal, gas and electric power. He was also appointed one of the seven honorary commissioners to administer the repatriation act, and was deputy chairman until the appointment of the permanent commission in 1920. He was chairman of the royal commission on federal economics, and was a member of the Victorian State electricity commission from its inception. He had great confidence in the future value of the works at Yallourn. In 1924 he was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Bank board, was elected chairman in 1926, and was re-elected to that position each year. He was also a director of the Union Trustee Company Ltd., the National Mutual Life Association, the Chamber of Manufactures Insurance Company Ltd., and Robert Harper and Company Ltd. and was a representative or the Commonwealth government in connexion with the Commonwealth Oil Refineries Ltd
Commonwealth Oil Refineries
Commonwealth Oil Refineries was an Australian oil companyCommonwealth Oil Refineries that operated bewtween 1920 and 1952 as a joint venture of the Australian government and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company....
. From 1922 to 1925 he was president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures, and also for a time president of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia.
These many interests gave Gibson a remarkable grasp of the financial position of Australia, and before the depression arrived in 1930 he had warned the federal government that difficult times were coming. When the James Scullin
James Scullin
James Henry Scullin , Australian Labor politician and the ninth Prime Minister of Australia. Two days after he was sworn in as Prime Minister, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 occurred, marking the beginning of the Great Depression and subsequent Great Depression in Australia.-Early life:Scullin was...
government was endeavouring to grapple with the position, which was aggravated in Australia by the low prices being paid for wool and wheat, various currency devices were brought forward, and Gibson's firm attitude towards E. G. Theodore, the treasurer of the day, eventually made possible the adoption of the premiers' plan. There was some intriguing to displace Gibson from the Commonwealth bank board but these efforts were defeated. On 6 May 1931 he was called before the bar of the senate to give his views on the Commonwealth bank bill. He replied to the many questions asked fully and patiently and with such effect that it was said that the bill was dead before he left the chamber. An experienced reporter described it as the finest performance he had ever seen in parliament. Gibson, while disclaiming any intention that the Commonwealth bank should dictate to the government, was determined that no efforts should be spared to prevent inflation. In this he was successful but he felt the strain and responsibility of these years very much.
Late life and legacy
Gibson had a serious illness in 1933 and died in South Yarra on 1 January 1934. Lady Gibson survived him with two sons and five daughters. He was created CBE in 1918, KBE in 1920 and GBE in 1932.Gibson painted in water-colours as a hobby and was a good photographer. Though tactful his sincerity and candour were apparent to all, and his absolute sense of justice led to his being much employed as an arbitrator in industrial disputes. The secretary of one union described him as the whitest man he had met in or out of the Labour movement.