W. R. Wilson

William Robert Wilson (c. 1849 – 28 May 1900), invariably known as W. R. Wilson, was a businessman with extensive interests in mining at Broken Hill, and a noted racehorse owner and breeder.

Wilson was born in Tyrone, Ireland, a son of a civil engineer who with his wife and family emigrated to Australia when he was six years old. He grew up in the Geelong district, and as a young man travelled to New Zealand, then South Australia, where he was in business at Quorn and from there to Broken Hill, where he accumulated considerable wealth.

In the early days of the Silverton mines he was appointed general manager of the Barrier Ranges Association, and was put in charge of the Day Dawn mine. He was a subscriber to the original float of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, whose success made many investors a great deal of money. Others on that prospectus were George McCulloch, Bowes Kelly, Harvey Patterson, William Jamieson, and others.

In April 1886 Wilson succeeded A R Blackwood as a director of the B.H.P., and later that same year, as one of the few on the board with mining experience, was sent to the US to inspect various mines, and at his recommendation W H Patton (of the Consolidated Virginia Company, Comstock lode) was appointed. He was also responsible for recruitment of H. H. Schlapp. In 1891 Wilson was appointed chairman of the board, but resigned the following year when he left to visit Europe, and never rejoined the board. Wilson was also connected with the formation of the Silverton Tramway Company, the Broken Hill Water Supply Company, and other mining ventures in Broken Hill and Western Australia. He was to hold a considerable portfolio of mining shares to the time of his death.

Wilson was a follower of horse racing; before moving to "The Barrier" he was secretary of the Quorn Jockey Club and an official with the Port Augusta Jockey Club, which may have been when he first came into contact with C. Leslie Macdonald, and after moving was a founder of the Barrier Ranges Jockey Club. but it was not until around 1885 that he became interested as a participant rather than a spectator. In 1890 he purchased the St Albans Stud, Whittington, near Geelong, from John Crozier, Jr. for a reputed £75,000, around twice what Crozier had paid James Wilson (no relation) just four years earlier. He returned to live in Victoria, dividing his time between St Albans and Melbourne.

...
Wikipedia