Sir Arthur Campbell Rymill (8 December 1907 – 27 March 1989) was a businessman, solicitor and Lord Mayor of Adelaide, South Australia.

History

Born in Adelaide, the son of businessman

Arthur Graham Rymill Arthur Graham Rymill (9 May 1868 – 10 September 1934) was a South Australian businessman and powerboat enthusiast. History Rymill was born on East Terrace, Adelaide, the third son of Henry Rymill (1836–1927) and Lucy Lockett Rymill née Baker ...

(9 May 1868 – 10 September 1934) and Agnes Lucy Rymill née Campbell (1 February 1886 – 22 August 1966), and grandson of Henry Rymill, Arthur was educated at Queen's School, St Peter's College and the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on ...

. He was admitted to the Bar in 1930. First elected to the Adelaide City Council in 1933, Rymill represented Young Ward until 1937. In the next two years he was councillor for Robe ward. On 16 June 1940 he enlisted as a private in the 2/14th Field Regiment, 2nd AIF, and was commissioned as lieutenant on 1 January 1941. He was however injured in an Army vehicle accident (in Sydney according to one report), and was invalided out of the service in May. He returned to his practice and later served as a part-time Red Cross representative and with the Naval Auxiliary Patrol off the Outer Harbor. He was elected to the MacDonnell ward of the

Adelaide City Council The City of Adelaide, also known as the Corporation of the City of Adelaide and Adelaide City Council is a local government area in the metropolitan area of greater Adelaide, South Australia and is legally defined as the capital city of Sou ...

in 1945 and held it until 1950, when he resigned to contest the Lord Mayoralty. He became, after Sir

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, the youngest elected mayor of Adelaide, and served four terms in the position. Assisted by longtime (1947–1965) town clerk (and close friend)

W. C. D. Veale Brigadier William Charles Douglas Veale, (16 May 1895 – 17 August 1971), generally known as W. C. D. Veale, was an Australian engineer, surveyor and soldier. He is best known as the longtime (1947–1965) town clerk of the Adelaide City Counc ...

, he commissioned significant improvements to the city's Parklands. He was, for a time, chairman of the City Council's parliamentary and by-laws committee.

Politics

A lifelong supporter of the conservative wing of South Australia's

Liberal and Country League Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and ...

, and diametrically opposed to the likes of Robin Millhouse and

Steele Hall Raymond Steele Hall (born 30 November 1928) is a former Australian politician who served as the 36th Premier of South Australia from 1968 to 1970. He also served in the federal Parliament as a senator for South Australia from 1974 to 1977 and ...

, he supported property enfranchisement qualification which applied in the State until (1970?), which meant that only landowners (and citizens with overseas war service) could vote in the Legislative Council. He was its deputy president, chairman of its finance committee, and its president (1953–1955). He supported the

Menzies Menzies is a Scottish surname, with Gaelic forms being Méinnearach and Méinn, and other variant forms being Menigees, Mennes, Mengzes, Menzeys, Mengies, and Minges. Derivation and history The name and its Gaelic form are probably derived f ...

government's 1951 referendum to ban the

Communist Party of Australia The Communist Party of Australia (CPA), known as the Australian Communist Party (ACP) from 1944 to 1951, was an Australian political party founded in 1920. The party existed until roughly 1991, with its membership and influence having been ...

. He was elected unopposed in 1956 to the

South Australian Legislative Council The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly. It sits in Parlia ...

as a member for Central District No.2. and held the seat until 1975.

Other Interests

A. C. Rymill was a noted polo player, representing South Australia in interstate matches 1933–1951, including the Gold Cup tournament in Sydney in 1938. He was a speedboat driver and won the 1933 Australasian hydroplane championship in his father's hydroplane ''Tortoise II'' against H. McEvoy's ''Cettein''. The following year it sank in Outer Harbor when it "flipped" after reaching 70 miles an hour. He was on the board of many companies: *Chairman, Advertiser Newspapers Ltd 1980–83, *Director, The Bank of Adelaide 1953–80 (Chairman 1953–79), *Member of Principal Board, AMP Society 1964–1980, *Director of Public Companies of South Australia, *Director, Bennett and Fisher, *Director, South Australian Brewing Company. He held many public offices: *First President, National Trust of SA, *Vice-President, Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust 1954–63, *Member of foundation board of Adelaide Festival of Arts, *Member of the Adelaide Children's Hospital board (Vice-President 1957–84). He was a member of the Adelaide Club from 1929 (president 1979–1980) and a member of the

Melbourne Club The Melbourne Club is a private social club established in 1838 and located at 36 Collins Street, Melbourne. The club is a symbol of Australia's British social heritage and was established at a gathering of 23 gentlemen on Saturday, 17 Decemb ...

from 1956.

Recognition

Arthur Campbell Rymill was knighted in 1954. Adelaide's Rymill Park was named for him.

Family

He married Margaret Earle Cudmore (8 August 1913 – ca.2004) on 27 December 1934. They had two daughters: *Rosemary (ca.1937 – ) *Annabel (ca.1942 – ) Their home was 39 Brougham Place, North Adelaide. The house was built for A. G. Rymill in 1907. Now part of Lincoln College, the building is known as Whitehead and serves as the principal's residence.Rymill House, 39 Brougham Place, North Adelaide
Adelaide Federation Heritage

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rymill, Arthur Campbell Mayors and Lord Mayors of Adelaide Members of the South Australian Legislative Council People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide Australian solicitors Australian motorboat racers Australian polo players 1907 births 1989 deaths Arthur Campbell Rymill Liberal and Country League politicians Adelaide Club 20th-century Australian politicians 20th-century Australian businesspeople Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian Army officers