CLIFF HOUSE - Key Persons

Andrew McIlwraith

Andrew McIlwraith was a handsome, red-bearded man with an outgoing and convivial personality. He had friends in high places including Brunel, Paxton and Andrew Fisher, a fellow Scot and Australian Prime Minister for the Labour party. His family life was not perhaps as rosy as his professional career. His first marriage to Mabel Stephenson (in November 1871) ended in separation and his second (in 1895 to American Holte Leichenburg) also failed. He lost two sons in the South Africa War and his third also predeceased him. He was survived by three daughters, two from his first marriage and the other from his second. He died on 19th October 1932 and is buried at Shadycombe Cemetery, Salcombe.

Annabel Tooke

Job Titles:

Weddings & Events Manager

Bridget Edwards

Job Titles:

Member of the Present Board

David Moxham

Job Titles:

Member of the Present Board

David Stevens

Job Titles:

Member of the Present Board

Gaynor Tabiner

Job Titles:

Member of the Present Board

Malcolm MacEacharn

Job Titles:

Business Partner

Andrew McIlwraith was born on 11th July 1844 in Ayr, Scotland. He was the fourth son of John McIlwraith, a successful plumber and ship owner, and his wife Janet. He was educated at Ayr Academy and joined his father's business in 1868, supervising the family's small shipping fleet and working on the development of close commercial relationships with his brothers, both of whom were enjoying considerable success in Australia. On 1st February 1875 Andrew founded ‘The Scottish Line' with business partner Malcolm MacEacharn, registering themselves as ‘shipping and insurance agents'. Within 3 years they had built a fleet of 5 ships, initially thanks to an agreement with the State of Queensland to carry migrants from British shores. Soon they were also exporting wool and other primary produce not just to Australia but also to the US and South America. Their handsome clippers were fast ships; the Scottish Wizard was renowned for completing the Bristol to Melbourne route in 92 days. Andrew's eldest brother John (1828-1902) had emigrated to Victoria in 1853 where he established a thriving metal works business in Melbourne, manufacturing block tin tubes with imported hydraulic equipment which he supplied to the booming plumbing trade and the developing gas works industry. His contracts included the pipework to provide hot water at Melbourne Hospital. Lured to Australia by John's success, brother Thomas McIlwraith (1835-1900) migrated to Victoria the following year, 1854, and began a career as a railway engineer and surveyor, later developing significant sheep stations and cattle runs. Entering into politics, he was known for his considerable physical stature, his heavy drinking and his passion for massive railway building programmes. By the time Andrew visited his brothers in 1875, Thomas was serving as Premier of Queensland. Thomas was evidently a very colourful character, indeed a biographer notes that "he did not emerge blameless from the three largest financial scandals in Queensland history". When Andrew McIlwraith was awarded a royal commission in 1880 the brothers were investigated for corrupt dealing of contracts: the charges were dropped.