SIR HUGH DENISON

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1940, Page 8

SIR HUGH DENISON

SYDNEY, November 23,

The death occurred today in Melbourne of Sir Hugh Denison, chairman of Associated Newspapers, Limited.. Che publishers of the Sydney "Sun," "Sunday Sun," and other publications.

He was a notable figure in business and public life in Sydney, and died at the age of 75. He was attending the Melbourne Cup Carnival when he became ill and remained in Melbourne till his death.

Sir Hugh Denison (formerly Mr. Hugh Dixson) completed his education at London University. His remarkable business career commenced in 1884 when he joined the firm of Wright Bros., Western Australia, contractors for the second section of the eastern railway in that State. After a year.

he went to his father's firm, Robert Dixson and Co., tobacco manufacturers, in Adelaide. He was elected to the City Council in Adelaide when 23 years old. In 1890 he returned to Western Australia to open a branch of the firm. After the death of his father he purchased the Adelaide business and soon after won the North Adelaide seat m the South Australian Parliament. He held this seat until 1905. When his firm was merged into the British Tobacco Co. (Aust.), Ltd., in 1904, he became managing-director oi that firm

and also a director of Messrs. W. D. and H. O. Wills (Aust.), Ltd., and moved to Sydney. In 1924 he was Commissioner for New South Wales at the Wembley Exhibition and in 1926----28 he represented Australia in the United States. He became chairman of Associated Newspapers, Ltd., publishers of the Sydney "Sun" and "Daily Telegraph," which later acquired the "News" and the "Guardian." He also founded the United Cable Service, the object of which was to supply Australia with Imperial news. He will be remembered as the owner of the racehorse Poseidon, which won both Derbies, both St. Legers, and the Melbourne and Caulfield ,Cups. He is said to have purchased the Horse, as a yearling for 500 guineas and it won £20,000 in stakes for him. , . His patriotism and Imperial vision were shown first in his gift of £10,000 to the Dreadnought Fund, which might be said to be the inception of Australia's Navy. Later, he made another gift of £25,000 to the, Jubilee Fund of the Royal Colonial Institute, an organisation which he built"up., pracitically single-handed, in Australia. As president of the New ,South Wales branch, he presented the institute with a fine building in Bligh Street, and furnished it at,' his own cost. Sir Hugh married in 1893 Miss Sara Rachael Fothergill and had three sons. He was knighted in 1923;