Wright, Phillip Arundell (1889 - 1970)

Phillip Arundell Wright was a grazier and a benefactor.

Wright's mother purchased Wallamumbi Station in 1900 and Jeogla in 1901, creating a vast estate for her descendants.

Wright served as a member of Dumaresq Shire Council in 1917-20 and 1924-50. Apart from Wallamumbi, which was always his headquarters, and Jeogla, he also owned, at different times

From 1927 to 1967, apart from two years, Wright served as a councillor (president 1946-48) of the Graziers' Association of New South Wales.

Although Wright had little formal education, he appreciated its value, particularly for young people isolated in rural areas. He was a board-member of The Armidale School. An original donor to New England University College, he was a foundation member (1938) and vice-chairman (1943-53) of its advisory council. When the college achieved independence in 1954, he was vice-chairman (deputy-chancellor from 1955) of the University of New England; in 1960 he succeeded Sir Earle Page [q.v.11] as chancellor.

When the university became independent in 1954, Phillip was one of the governor's appointees and became vice-chairman of the first University Council. In 1955 he was appointed first Deputy Chancellor. He was elected Chancellor in July 1960, a position he held for 10 years. A residential college at the University of New England is named after him.

Phillip was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree in October 1957 and made many donations to the university in the form of lands, funding for research and the university mace.

He married twice, first to Ellen Bigg and, after her death, to Dora Temperley. He had five children, one of whom was the poet Judith Wright. He was internationally well-known for the quality of his wool and beef and served on many local organisations. He was, among other things, chair of the New England National Park Trust, and the New England New State Movement. He was awarded the CMG in 1962.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]

Previous and Subsequent Entities

 1880 - 1961 Page, Earle Christmas Grafton
       1889 - 1970 Wright, Phillip Arundell

Owned

• Jeogla Station
• Wallamumbi Station

Related Employer Bodies

• Graziers' Association of New South Wales

Related Families

• Wright Family

• Oppenheimer, Jillian, 'Wright, Phillip Arundell (1889 - 1970)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160702b.htm. [ Details... ]