Ross T. Reid
Ross Thompson Reid (2 February 1832 – 10 January 1915) was a pastoralist in South Australia and New South Wales. He is remembered in South Australia as the founder of Rostrevor Hall. History. Reid was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, and emigrated to South Australia with his parents John Reid (11 November 1795 – 12 October 1874) and Jane Reid (1795 – 26 March 1885), née Livingstone, arrived in January 1839 aboard "Orleana" with their children: The children were brought up at "Clonlea", Gawler. Three of the brothers went in for pastoral property management: William took over Tolarno station  on the Darling River, which he managed from the mid 1850s to the 1890s. Ross Reid and R.J.B. Reid initially had a share in the business; R.J.B. Reid left the partnership in 1868. Ross Reid was managing Mount Murchison station until at least 1866, then it was taken over by Dean & Laughton, and Ross joined William at Tolarno. Ross was a keen racegoer and owned several winning horses, notably "Pride of the Hills". He purchased a large block at Magill, in the foothills of Adelaide, and there built a fine mansion which he named after Rostrevor, a seaside resort close  to his birthplace. They owned Tarcoon Station, on the Bogan River, from 1870 to 1872, when it was sold to F. H. Randell. Tolarno station was one of the largest and most successful sheep stations on the Darling, shearing up to 250,000 sheep a year. While Tolarno was in the hands of the Reid brothers the only practical freight communication was by steamboat on the Murray-Darling system to ports such as Echuca, Mannum and Goolwa. In 1875, the Reid brothers and Hugh King purchased the "Jane Eliza" from captains Davies and Dorward, and also had an interest in steamers  Gem, "Jupiter", "Menindie" and "Shannon". Thousands of tonnes of wool were shipped and the Reid brothers made a fortune. Tolarno was in the 1880s badly infested with rabbits, and was used as a test bed for Dr. Butcher's experiments with "Tintinallogy disease", which proved to be a false hope. In 1887 he put "Rostrevor" on the market; it was purchased by Melbourne businessman J. S. Reid (no relation). A prolonged drought hit the country in the 1890s, with a considerable loss of stock. Several banks failed and a country-wide recession hit Australia, with consequent loss of sales and  low prices. He retired to Glenelg, South Australia, where in his home, "St Leonards", he died aged 82, and was buried in the family vault, Magill. Family. On 12 February 1868 Ross Thompson Reid ( – 10 January 1915) married Lucy Reynell (c. 1842 – c. 20 January 1921), eldest daughter of John Reynell (1809 – 15 June 1873) and Mary Reynell, née Lucas (c. 1805 – 18 November 1867). John arrived aboard "Surrey" in October 1838; Mary arrived aboard "Orleana" early in January 1839; they married on 31 January 1839. She was in England when husband died. Died in Adelaide but accorded a minimal  death notice and no obituary. His remains were interred it the family vault at Magill.