Malcolm Donald McEacharn
DateMay 1898
Object number00030239
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print
DimensionsOverall: 780 × 360 × 40 mm, 2550 g
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from McIlwraith McEacharn Limited
DescriptionA framed photograph of Sir Malcolm McEacharn in his mayoral robes and chain of office.
Sir Malcolm Donald McEacharn (8 February 1852 – 10 March 1910). Founded McIlwraith McEacharn Line with Andrew Mcilwraith in 1875. After moving to Australia he became a Melbourne City councillor in 1893 and Mayor of Melbourne 1897-1900. McEacharn was knighted in 1900 and sat in the Australian parliament as the member for Melbourne from 1901-1904 becoming Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 1903–1904.
(This is the same image as 000030240).HistoryMalcolm McEacharn was a Scottish shipbroker and the son of a master mariner who had died in 1854 when his ship was wrecked in Bass Strait.
Andrew McIlwraith was born into a family of shipowners and two of his brothers were well established businessmen and politicians based in the Australian colonies of Queensland and Victoria. Within a year of forming, McIlwraith McEacharn had won a major contract with the Queensland Government to provide six ships for two years, transporting British migrants to Australia. When the contract between McIlwraith McEacharn and the Queensland Government ended in the 1880s, the company's ships instead conveyed wool and passengers.
Around this time McIlwraith McEacharn gained some notoriety as pioneers of frozen and refrigerated sea transport. Throughout next few decades, McIlwraith McEacharn became involved in mining and transportation services, and strengthened its hold on passenger shipping. By the 1980s coal had become the major focus of McIlwraith McEacharn and the company sold its remaining shipping interests. In 1992 the remainder of the business was traded to a US company and lost the 19th century name.
SignificanceMcIlwraith McEacharn Limited originated in London in 1875, going on to become one of the largest and most successful companies operating in Australia throughout the following century.
