Colin York Syme AK (1903 - 1986)

Born 22 Apr 1903 in Claremont, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Patricia Hamilton (Baird) Syme — married 5 Apr 1933 in Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia

Died 19 Jan 1986 at age 82 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia

Biography

Colin Syme AK is Notable.

Doctor Sir Colin Syme AK D Sc LLB (Hons) was an Australian lawyer, businessman, technological innovator, medical research administrator and Company director. He was noted as Chairman of BHP for 19 years and President of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research for 17 years.

Formative years

Colin York Syme was born in 22nd April 1903 in Claremont, Western Australia, Australia. He was the son of Francis Syme and Marion Gardiner. ^[1] He was educated at Scotch College, Claremont and at the Universities of Western Australia and Melbourne. He attained the degrees Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Honours and Doctor of Science (DSc).

He joined Hedderwick, Fookes & Alston solicitors in Perth in 1923 and was made a partner in 1928 (aged just 25 years), remaining such until retiring in 1966. ^[2]

Colin married Patricia Baird on 5th April 1933 in St Michael’s Church of England (now Anglican Church), Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern harbourside suburbs. ^[3] They made their home at 22 Stonnington Place, Toorak, Victoria.

Business career

As early as 1929, he was appointed to the board of Union Theatres (Victoria) Ltd, which owned the freehold of the magnificent new State Theatre in Melbourne. He left the board in 1937 having made a reputation as a determined and imaginative businessman and was invited onto the board of BHP Co Ltd. Having been elected Deputy Chairman 1950-52, he was made Chairman of BHP 1952-71. He was also President of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 1961-78 and Deputy Chairman of Elder Smith Goldsborough Mort Ltd from 1962. In addition to these time-absorbing and prestigious appointments, Colin served as a Director of Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Pty Ltd, Tubemakers of Australia Ltd, BHP By-Products Pty Ltd, ICIANZ Pty Ltd and Australian Wire Industries Pty Ltd. ^[2]

He remained well-connected through memberships of the Melbourne, Australian, Adelaide and Newcastle Clubs.

Honours and government appointments

On 8th June 1963, in the Queen's Birthday Honours, Colin was created Knight Bachelor for his work as 'President of the Walter/Eliza Institute of Research'. ^[4] On 6th June 1977, once more in the Queen's Birthday Honours, he was created Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) for 'extraordinary and meritorious service to industry, particularly in the fields of research and technology'. ^[5]

In 1972, the Federal Government set up a committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Colin Syme to advise it on science and technology. It was known as the Syme Committee. In 1973, he and Doctor Sir Lance Townsend co-chaired an inquiry into Victorian health services, which produced findings widely known as the Syme-Townsend report, a major outcome of which was the creation of the Health Commission of Victoria. ^[2]

He was appointed to represent Australia on the Standing International Advisory Committee which was formed in 1965 by Chase Manhattan Bank of New York to maintain continuing contact with multi-national industries.

He was the inaugural President of the Order of Australia Association, from January 1980 to January 1983. ^[2]

Death

Having been widowed for five years and aged 82 years, he passed away on 19th January 1986 in Malvern, Victoria. ^[6] He was survived by his daughter and three sons. ^[2]

Sir Colin Syme's portrait, painted by Judy Cassab, hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.

Sources

1. ↑ Western Australia Birth Registration 545/1903
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Merrett, D T. 'Syme, Sir Colin York (1903–1986)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2012; accessed online 29 Jul 2021
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #7620/1933; registered at Woollahra
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 29 Jul 2021
5. ↑ Australian Honours: AK; accessed 29 Jul 2021
6. ↑ Victoria Death Index #1819/1986; registered at Howqua

See also

• Wikipedia: Colin Syme; accessed 29 Jul 2021.