John McCallum Sr
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John Neil Clark McCallum Sr (1871 - 1957)

John Neil Clark McCallum Sr
Born in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australiamap
Husband of — married 1916 in Manly, New South Wales, Australiamap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 85 in Point Piper, New South Wales, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 9 Sep 2018
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Biography

John was born in 1871 the son of John McCallum and Margaret Stewart.[1] He died in 1957.[2][3]

John Neil McCallum Is one of Brisbane's best known men, especially so in the musical and theatrical world. He is also remarkable for possession of the most extensive and valuable collection of photograph's in Australia. Including the rare collection once owned by Victor Drury, containing all the public men of Queensland from Sir George Bowen to the present time. These should have been purchased by the Government for a national gallery. 'Truth' readers are indebted to McCallum for tho photos weekly illustrating Mr. Meston's article on the history of Parliament.

McCallum is a native of Brisbane, and was born in Fortitude Valley, in 1872. His dad was a native of Arglyshire and his mother was a native of Edinburgh. Dad was a Caledonian belonging to the clan of the great McCallum Mohr; boasting some of the best blood of Scotland. Parents came out in 1862 in the Ellenslie, which also brought Bob Philp and his parents, Bob Aitchisson, Sword, of the Land Board, John Andersen, R. L. Armour, and the late W. C. Whitehill.

McCallum settled at the Bald Hills and died there about 30 years ago, his widow removing thence to Fortitude Valley, where Master John was born, and developed such precocious musical genius that he became organist of the Valley Presbyterian Church at the age of 15, and at 17, bandmaster of a flute band. Was 10 years hon. sec. of the Brisbane Musical Union, whose progress he materially assisted. Has been organist of the Ann St Presbyterian Church for 10 years, also local representative and manager for a whole galaxy of brilliant players and singers, including Paderewskl, Amy Castles, Cari Dani, Elsie Hall, Wiegand and Nora Mackay. The art gallery in hls office is one of the sights of Brisbane. It contains a whole brilliant constellation of celebrities who could be made the subject of a series of interesting artlcles.

There, too, are oil paintings by Fristrom, Jenner, Peale, and Rudinoff, and many, continental artists appear in the water colors. There are 300 more photographs awaiting space. It is in truth a fair Rosamund's pictorial bower, or a hall as of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, and John N. presides there with the courtesy and hospitality which marked the caste of Vere de Vere—and the old McCallum Mohr. [4]

John Neil Clark McCallum was the first manager of the Cremorne Theatre in Brisbane, which he purchased from the original owner, Edward Branscombe in 1916. He operated the theatre until it burned down in 1954, leasing it to various studios and performers, including Will Mahony, Evie Hays and Bob Geraghty who ran the Cremorne from 1943 to 1951. He was the father of noted Australian actor John Neil McCallum Jr (1919-2010)[5]

John Neill Clark McCallum played a heavily reported role in a very public divorce proceeding in Brisbane in 1911. The collection and John's proficiency at the piano all received an airing in the case. The headlines give a flavour. Doings in Divorce, Rorty Remanous Romance, Festive Financier and Fraile Fair One, Mister McCallum the Money-lending Muso, Handsome Hannah and 'Hemy's Hexercises', The Picnic, The Pretty Pet and the Pyjamas. Thy Assyrian Comes Down Like a Wolf on the Fold, Sister Suchin's Slim Stunt - Bleeding a pair of Fly Flats - Two Beaux on the String. The full story is worth a read. [6]

IN The SUPREME COURT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY PROBATE JURISDICTION
IN THE ESTATE of JOHN NEIL McCALLUM late of Manly near Sydney, in the State of New South Wales. Gentleman, deceased.
APPLICATION will be made after fourteen days from the date of publication hereof that Probate of the Will of the abovenamed Deceased may be granted to IAN CLARKE McCALLUM and DONALD BRUCE McCALLUM, JOHN NEIL McCALLUM the other Executor named therein having renounced Probate thereof and all notices may be served at the undermentioned address. All creditors in the Estate of the Deceased are hereby required to send in particulars of their claims to the undersigned.
BRIAN ROBERT GALLEN Alinga Street, City, Canberra. Proctor for the Applicant.[7]

Research Notes

Spelling in birth record is not used. With John Neil Clark McCallum being the approved form of his name.

Sources

  1. Queensland Register of Births Deaths and Marriages - Birth. John Neill Clark McCallum 16/10/1871. Son of John McCallum and Margaret Stewart. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/76483e8d165dcf51bf4850071fe656d46865529b43235098912ed3a5f0c23e64. Registration Details: 1871/B/13183.
  2. New South Wales Register of Births Deaths and Marriages - Death. MCCALLUM, JOHN NEIL C 1957. Son of JOHN and MARGARET. District SYDNEY. Registration Number: 778/1957.
  3. The Ryerson Index to death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapers. McCALLUM, John Neil Clark. Death notice. 02 MAR 1957. Death. at Point Piper. Sydney Morning Herald. 05 MAR 1957. Accessed at https://ryersonindex.org/search.php.
  4. The Truth, Sun 14 Oct 1906. p. 4.
  5. https://manuscripts.library.uq.edu.au/mccallum-john-n-neil-1871-1957
  6. Truth, Sun 27 Aug 1911. p 5.
  7. Canberra Times, Sat 4 May 1957, p. 10.




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