A gouty, obese, uninteresting ancient with a double chin,” whose immense wealth made him “worthy of veneration...”
That's how The Sun of 16 February 1908 rather harshly described Sam Phillips, the stoutly-built gentleman in the rear, right, of this 1907 Clement-Talbot, parked outside The Weld Club in mid-December 1907.
Sam was a grandson of WA’s first surveyor-general, John Septimus Roe through his mother, Sophia. His father, Samuel Pole Phillips, was a politician and one of WA’s early cattle kings after whom Phillips River, in the Goldfields, is named.
Born in Perth in 1855, Sam was educated at Bishop’s (Hale) School and, as a young man, worked on his father’s property The Grange at Yardarino in the Irwin District. He took control of it in 1880 and, within the next ten years, was a JP and had gone into politics.
In 1885, in partnership with his younger brother John, he acquired the 100,000 acre (around 40,500 Ha) Jimba Jimba sheep station on the Gascoyne River, and in 1887 established the 400,000 acre (165,000 Ha) Mt Augustus and Mt James cattle stations.
Sam also owned much of the land along the Midland Railway and when the railway was constructed he subdivided 100 acres around Mingenew Springs into 156 town blocks and roads.
This was the first privately subdivided land in WA and is now the town of Mingenew.
Sam bought his car in the weeks before Christmas 1907, shortly after which this photo was taken.
If you're wondering why these men were so warmly dressed it's because Perth was then experiencing an unusually chilly December, with an average of just 23?.
Read more at https://www.fromhoovestohighways.com/sam-phillips
Or see more, in person, at The Atlas Building, 10-12 The Esplanade, Perth (opposite Elizabeth Quay). Entry by donation.
From Hooves to Highways is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and the first Saturday of every month.
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