Henry Rymill and Frank Rymill were brothers prominent in business and public service in the 19th century South Australia. Henry "Harry" Rymill and Francis "Frank" Rymill were born in England, sons of Robert Rymill and Louisa Rymill of Shepperton, and migrated to South Australia, arriving at Port Adelaide in the Caucasian on 1 October 1855. Their company H & F Rymill was a prominent financial institution well into the 20th century. Their families included a number of prominent Adelaide citizens. Robert, Herbert and Sidney also traded as "Rymill Brothers "Rymill Brothers" could also refer to the speedboat racing team of Arthur Graham Rymill and Ernest Seymour Rymill – see their notes below. It could also refer to the partnership of cricketer Jack Westall Rymill and golfer William Seaton Rymill, actually cousins, who ran several sheep and cattle stations.
Henry Rymill
Henry was working as a lawyer's clerk in London when persuaded by brother-in-law J. B. Graham of Prospect, South Australia to emigrate to the new colony. Despite numerous letters of introduction, he was unable to find congenial employment and finally at the home of Arthur John Baker, he was introduced to Captain Hughes who offered him employment as a gardener at Watervale. He soon attracted the attention of Henry Ayers, who was looking for a bookkeeper and cashier for the South Australian Mining Association in the Waterhouse Chambers. In 1862 he decided to go into business for himself and was so successful that around 1865 he took his brother Frank into partnership. Aside from this business he became
Part-owner and director of Canowie Pastoral Company, a merino sheep stud
Arthur Graham Rymill married Agnes Lucy Campbell on 7 June 1905. He was a principal of H & F Rymill; chairman of directors, Bennett and Fisher; a director of the Bank of Adelaide, General Motors Holden, Colton Palmer and Preston, and Royal Insurance Company; and Executor and managing director of Canowie Pastoral Company, and with his brother Ernest Seymour, owned and successfully raced several hydroplane speedboats named Tortoise.
Herbert Lockett "Cargie" Rymill married Shylie Katharine Blue on 18 September 1906. She was State Commissioner of Girl Guides in South Australia from 1938 to 1950, recipient of the OBE in 1942, and the Silver Fish Award in 1948. "Cargie" helped found the Royal Adelaide Golf Club at Seaton in 1902, and planned and founded Kooyonga Golf Club in 1922.
Ernest Seymour Rymill shared with his brother A. G. Rymill ownership of the highly successful hydroplanes named Tortoise, and was their mechanic. He was a champion clay target marksman.
The family home was "The Firs", East Terrace, Adelaide. Also on East Terrace was "East View", home of Lucy Rymill's father A. J. Baker.
Frank Rymill
Frank travelled to Adelaide with his brother Henry. His first job in South Australia was as a shepherd at Wallaroo. Frank later held various Government positions:
Their home for many years was "Springfield", Mitcham
H. & F. Rymill
Henry and Frank formed a partnership H. & F. Rymill as land agents and financiers around 1863, with offices at Pirie Chambers in Pirie Street. Much of their fortune was made in 1878 when they purchased from William King for £11,000 the lease on part of the land bounded by Pirie Street, Gawler Place, McHenry Street, part of town acres 169 and 170 purchased by George McHenry in 1837. In 1879 they helped found a new Stock Exchange with G. Dutton Green as its head, on land known as "King's timber yard" in Pirie Street; they hired Edmund W. Wright to design the new building. The company prospered, becoming major investors and landholders in their own right. Their properties included Canowie Station and Marra Station.
