Harold Sleigh

Harold Crofton Sleigh (pron. "slee")^[1] (19 May 1867^[2] – 24 April 1933) was an Australian businessman, founder of H. C. Sleigh and Company, involved in shipping and petroleum distribution, best known for their "Golden Fleece" products and service stations.

History

Harold Crofton Sleigh was born in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, to Hamilton Norman Sleigh and Anna Elizabeth Sleigh, née Ward, whose residence in 1881, was Belmont House, Bitton, Gloucestershire. He was educated at Bath Grammar School and worked for several businesses before gaining employment with the Union Bank of London^[2] which was chiefly concerned with overseas clients, so gained some knowledge of international shipping practice. He left for Australia in 1888 and became involved in barge traffic on the rivers Murray and Darling.

Shipping

Sleigh owned the steamers Emu from 1891^[3] and Ethel Jackson^[4] from 1892 or earlier.^[5] Both did service on the Darling River out of Bourke, New South Wales.

Around 1893 he began working for Harrold Brothers, ship brokers and owners of Melbourne, and while with that company he privately tendered for a contract in which his employers were interested. His resignation was accepted and well advertised.^[6] He won the contract, which was to carry coal from Newcastle, New South Wales for the Western Australian Government Railways for two years.^[7] He took a six-month charter of SS Eskdale and two sister ships Tangier and Asphodel,^[8] which were more than capable of filling the contract, plus general cargo and passengers in steerage, for which there was a strong demand, especially to the goldfields.^[9] W. R. Cave of Adelaide acted as agent, then in August 1896 W. Howard Smith's recently (1890) formed Intercolonial Steamship Company took over the contract.^[10]

Around the same time he ordered two cargo steamers, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Otway, from Russell & Co. of Glasgow,^[11] but no sooner had they been launched, than Sleigh's Australian Transport Company sold them to the A.U.S.N. Company^[12]

In 1898 he chartered the A.U.S.N. steamer Victoria to carry kauri logs from Kaipara, New Zealand, to Port Phillip^[13] and pioneered the commercial shipping of horses by the steamer Ashley, and in 1899 opened the live sheep and cattle export trade to Southern Africa when 500 bullocks and 1,000 sheep were sent by the China Mutual Company's steamer Ningchow from Brisbane to Laurenco Marques.^[14] By the end of the century his trade with South Africa had increased immensely, notably by steamers Inchmona, Henley, Florence Pile, Glanton, Beira, Moel Eilian and George Pyman. His "Blue Star Line" included steamers Baron Eldon and Venetia.^[15] In 1902 he floated in London the Colonial Steamship Company to carry freight between Melbourne, Durban, and New Zealand, and was granted a subsidy of £30,000 by the New Zealand Government.^[16] In 1909 he won a contract for a fortnightly shipping service between Melbourne and Fiji.^[17]

Sleigh was also a successful ship broker,^[18] finding Japanese buyers for the collier Alabama in 1924,^[19] Chinese buyers for Corio in 1926,^[20] Moorabool ^[21] and four NZ ships in 1928^[22] and Mawatta in 1937.^[23]

In 1925 Sleigh won the Coastal Shipping Service contract to service the many Northern Territory coastal and island communities from Darwin, using the steamer Kinchela. In 1926 he purchased the 500-ton German steamer Mars,^[a] renamed Marion Sleigh, as a replacement.^[24] The contract was terminated within a year^[25] and the ship was put into weekly service Sydney–Newcastle.^[26] In 1932, after a few years lying idle in Sydney Harbour, she was sold and renamed Port Whangarei.^[27]

Petroleum

Main article: Golden Fleece Company

 

1919 advertisement

According to one account, Sleigh started in the petroleum trade in 1913, when a customer was unable to pay freight on a shipment of motor spirit, and the company took possession of the consignment.^[2]

In 1917 he registered the trade name "Golden Fleece" for "illuminating, heating and lubricating oils, including petrol, benzine and kerosene",^[28] and the following year was clearly marketing "benzine"^[b] as a fuel for motorcycles.^[29]

He got a Californian oil company to supply four-gallon (US five-gallon) cans of motor spirit, branded "Golden Fleece" to his order (see advertisement, right).

Petrol was in those days shipped, and sold, in four-gallon (18 litre) cans, roughly cubic in shape, two to the wooden case.^[30]

By 1923, shipments of motor spirit were arriving monthly; the March consignment of 13,000 cases (104,000 imperial gallons (470,000 l; 125,000 US gal)) arrived per Vinita.^[31] By June 1926 Golden Fleece fuel was also shipped in 44-gallon^[c] drums^[32] and dispensed at the garage or service station from a kerbside "bowser".^[d] In 1930 Sleigh began shipping bulk petrol by the tanker Mexico.^[33]

Promotion

The company's advertising was initially directed at motorcycle enthusiasts: around 1915 Sleigh became personally interested in motor-cycling, and began sponsoring trophies for the Victorian Motorcycle Club.^[34] In 1923 he sponsored a record-breaking motorcycle ride, Adelaide to Sydney (1,280 miles (2,060 km)) in 40 hours 9 min.^[35] He supported automobile club events to a similar extent, but was greatly overspent by the likes of Dunlop and the motor car retailers.≤^[36]

Premises

In 1919 the company had an outlet at 2 Bridge Street, Sydney, selling "Summit" lubricating oils and "Golden Fleece" gasoline.^[37]

By 1923 they had premises at 228–230 Pirie Street, Adelaide and a bulk storage depot at Albert Park. The facility was destroyed in 1929 by fire, which raged for several days.^[38]

Other commodities

In 1921 Sleigh, with A. Coombs and J. T. Caldwell, secured a lease on Solomon Islands timber^[39] He had one of the few licences to ship Australian sandalwood to China from the Port Pirie – Port Augusta region of South Australia.^[40]

Personal

Sleigh married Marion Elizabeth Chapple (1869 – 20 June 1941) on 5 June 1895 at St John's Church, Melbourne.^[2] She was daughter of John William Chapple and Marion Chapple, née Dowsett.

• Their only son (later Sir) Hamilton Morton Howard Sleigh (20 March 1896 – 24 November 1979) became partner, and on his father's death took over the company as chairman and chief executive.

Sleigh was appointed Honorary Finnish Vice-Consul for Victoria in 1922.^[41]

In 1926 he travelled to London, partly on business, but notably to consult specialists regarding a mysterious affliction affecting his foot. No treatment helped, and the leg was amputated.^[42]

Sleigh became seriously ill in December 1932 and died aged 65 at his home "Laradoc", 111 Walsh Street, South Yarra and was buried at the Box Hill Cemetery.

Recognition

A 13,000-ton tanker, launched 1953, was named Harold Sleigh in his honour.^[43]

Notes

1. Twin-screw steamer built at Bremerhaven in 1906, converted to oil-burning in 1926
2. Not to be confused with the chemical now known as benzine, as distinct from benzene, a probable constituent of "motor spirit".
3. 44.0 imperial gallons (200 l; 52.8 US gal)
4. Essentially a large graduated glass vessel on a pedestal, perhaps 2 metres in height. The fuel was pumped into the vessel to the desired volume, then released into the customer's fuel tank or container via a flexible hose.

References

1. John E Hoskin. "Australian Shipping Lines: H. C. Sleigh". Flotilla Australia. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
2. Diane Langmore (1988). Sleigh, Harold Crofton (1867–1933). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
3. "Local and General". Western Herald. Vol. VII, no. 410. New South Wales, Australia. 9 September 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "Australian Shipping". The Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XXVIII, no. 8128. South Australia. 27 November 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Port Melbourne Police Court". The Standard (Melbourne). Vol. IX, no. 490. Victoria, Australia. 24 December 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Advertising". The Age. No. 12, 715. Victoria, Australia. 29 November 1895. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Government Gazette". The W.A. Record. Vol. XXII, no. 797. Western Australia. 28 December 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "The New Coal Contract". The Daily News (Perth). Vol. XIV, no. 6, 390. Western Australia. 23 January 1896. p. 7. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "The West Australian Trade". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 15, 467. Victoria, Australia. 25 January 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "The New Intercolonial Line of Steamers". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 5353. New South Wales, Australia. 17 August 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "Shipping Items". Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. Vol. 7, no. 1721. New South Wales, Australia. 9 February 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "Shipping Intelligence". The West Australian. Vol. 13, no. 3, 633. Western Australia. 18 October 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "The Victoria All Safe". The Australian Star. No. 3125. New South Wales, Australia. 9 February 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 16 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
14. "Newcastle". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 6142. New South Wales, Australia. 18 February 1899. p. 11. Retrieved 16 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 17, 053. Victoria, Australia. 6 March 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 18 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "The Colonial Steamship Company". Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. Vol. XI, no. 3322. New South Wales, Australia. 26 July 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "News of the Day". The Age. No. 16, 898. Victoria, Australia. 12 May 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "About People". The Age. No. 24, 347. Victoria, Australia. 25 April 1933. p. 10. Retrieved 14 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
19. "Shipping". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 13, 881. New South Wales, Australia. 4 June 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
20. "Corio Sold to China". The Labor Daily. No. 774. New South Wales, Australia. 26 July 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
21. "Steamer Moorabool Sold". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 25, 525. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1928. p. 30. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
22. "Steamers Sold to East". Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. No. 12, 448. New South Wales, Australia. 27 July 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
23. "Steamer Sold". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XCVI, no. 77. Tasmania, Australia. 10 June 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
24. "Shipping". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 16, 628. Queensland, Australia. 18 March 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
25. "Territory Shipping Service". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. XCII, no. 26, 675. South Australia. 14 February 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
26. "Shipping Intelligence". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 14, 868. New South Wales, Australia. 4 August 1927. p. 19. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
27. "When Ships Take a New Name". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. 2, no. 105. New South Wales, Australia. 16 June 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
28. "Commonwealth Patents". Freeman's Journal. Vol. LXIX, no. 4122. New South Wales, Australia. 2 August 1917. p. 40. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
29. "Club Champioinship". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 13, 356. Victoria, Australia. 25 November 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
30. "The House of Sleigh". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 7 September 1955. p. 12. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
31. "Motor Spirit — A Large Shipment". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 11, no. 567. South Australia. 24 March 1923. p. 21. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
32. "Display Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 906. Victoria, Australia. 7 June 1926. p. 12. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
33. "First Petrol Shipment for All-Australian Firm". The Register News-pictorial. Vol. XCV, no. 27, 789. South Australia. 8 September 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
34. "Club Championship". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 13, 356. Victoria, Australia. 25 November 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 18 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
35. ""Golden Fleece" Motor Spirit". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 11, no. 567. South Australia. 24 March 1923. p. 22. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
36. "Alpine Motor Contest". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 23, 821. Victoria, Australia. 9 December 1922. p. 31. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
37. "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 563. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1919. p. 8. Retrieved 19 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia. both modest classified advertisements.
38. "A Spectacular Blaze". Chronicle. Vol. LXXI, no. 3, 778. South Australia. 16 February 1929. p. 52. Retrieved 20 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
39. "Purchase of a Lease". The Daily News (Perth). Vol. XXXX, no. 14, 375. Western Australia. 7 April 1921. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
40. "The Sandalwood Industry". The Transcontinental. South Australia. 4 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
41. "Concerning People". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXVII, no. 25, 289. South Australia. 16 January 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
42. "European Conditions". The Daily News (Perth). Vol. XLV, no. 15, 936. Western Australia. 25 May 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 17 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
43. "Harold Sleigh - New Tanker Commissioned". Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. No. 20, 007. New South Wales, Australia. 20 March 1953. p. 1 (Supplement). Retrieved 14 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.