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Farrell, R.E. Tom (1904 - 1996)

M.A.
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Born: 1904  Brisbane, Queensland.  Died: 1996.

Tom Farrell was born in 1904. He was described as an "extraordinary powerhouse of a man" and worked tirelessly to improve Newcastle and the Hunter region as a place to live. He was instrumental in the foundation and relocation of the University of Newcastle and he also worked hard to establish public recreation space and national parks. He died in 1996.


Career Highlights
Mr R.E (Tom) Farrell was born in Brisbane in 1904 and attended Cook's Hill Junior High School. In 1921 Farrell accepted an appointment at the Newcastle Abattoirs where he worked as an accountant and a meat inspector and in 1966 was appointed General Manager. Farrell retired in 1968 after 47 years at the abattoir. Tom Farrell is also considered to be one of the fathers of Newcastle University. Farrell used his considereble local influence to petition the NSW government to establish a University college in Newcastle. He was also influential in the relocation of the University campus from the overcrowded Tinges Hill site to the present campus at Shortland. In 1988, Newcastle University granted him an Honorary Master of Arts. Farrell was also a noted environmentalist, serving as an active member of several groups such as the National Parks Movement, the Northern Parks and Playgrounds movement and the Hunter Valley National Parks Association. During the 1930s, Farrell among others, were able to sucsessfully lobby for the Blackbutt Reserve to be preserved as a public recreation space. Farrell was also involved in the preservation of Mt Sugarloaf, Barrington Tops and Myall Lakes as public recreation space and parkland. Tom Farrell died in July, 1996.
 
Related Entities for Farrell, R.E. Tom

Related Special Collections

  • Newcastle Oral History Collection
    Tom Farrell contributed to the University of Newcastle's Oral History records speaking about Blackbutt Reserve, Newcastle Uni and the Newcastle Abattoirs all of which he was personally involved with.
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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: James Crowley
Created: 18 July 2002
Modified: 7 November 2002

Published by The Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, 5 April 2004
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 23 February 2010
http://www.nswera.net.au/biogs/UNC0021b.htm

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