John Andrew Tennant Mortlock
John Andrew Tennant Mortlock | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 March 1894 Mintaro, South Australia, Australia |
| Died | 15 March 1950 (aged 55) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Pastoralist, philanthropist |
| Known for | Patron of the State Library of South Australia; Mortlock Wing named in his honor |
John Andrew Tennant Mortlock (30 March 1894 – 15 March 1950) was a prominent pastoralist from South Australia and a major patron of the State Library of South Australia, honored through the naming of the library's "Mortlock Wing".
History
Mortlock was born in Mintaro, South Australia as the second son to pastoralist William Tennant Mortlock (1858–1913) and Rosina Forsyth "Rosye" Mortlock, née Tennant (1865–1939).
His education included time at Glenelg Grammar School, St. Peter's College, and Jesus College, Cambridge. After his father passed away in 1913, he departed Cambridge to oversee the family holdings. These assets comprised the Martindale Estate and Martindale Hall, as well as multiple cattle and sheep stations located throughout Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria.
An accomplished breeder of stud Merino sheep, Mortlock held leadership roles including chairman positions at Yudnapinna Pastoral Company Pty. Ltd. and Yalluna Pty. Ltd., both companies specializing in pastoral management.
Last years
On 7 December 1948, while suffering from terminal cancer, Mortlock married Dorothy Elizabeth Beech (1906–1979), who had previously served as secretary to his financial manager Ernest E. E. Scarfe. He named her executor of his will.
Mortlock passed away in a private hospital in Adelaide and was laid to rest at North Road Cemetery. His estate in South Australia was valued at £1,148,124. After his death, Dorothy Mortlock became an active supporter of the State Library of South Australia by participating on its management committee and the "Friends of the SLSA," while also making substantial donations to various charitable organizations.
Other interests
Tennant was affiliated with the Adelaide Club and involved in greyhound racing as well as racehorse ownership. He was a yachtsman who owned the motor yacht Martindale and pursued amateur filmmaking. Residing in Millswood, South Australia, he had a passion for orchid cultivation and was a regular attendee at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Mintaro. Additionally, he was known as an aficionado of fine wines.
Benefaction
In 1926, Mortlock contributed £2,000 to the Waite Agricultural Research Institute (now integrated within the University of Adelaide). A decade later, he and his mother jointly donated £25,000 to establish the Ranson Mortlock Memorial Research Trust focused on soil conservation and pasture improvement research.
His last will allocated more than £73,000 to cultural institutions and charitable causes, with the remainder divided between the State Library and the Waite Institute.
The Mortlock Library of South Australiana was founded within the State Library of South Australia in 1986, with its Mortlock Wing named to honor his philanthropic legacy.