GIBSON, Sir Robert (1864-1934)

man of business

son of John Edward Gibson, was born at Falkirk, Scotland, on 4 November 1864. He was educated at the Falkirk public school and joined the Camelon Iron Company, of which his father was managing director, at the age of 15. He was later apprenticed to R. Gardner and Company, Glasgow, and studied art and design at the Haldane academy. In 1887 he rejoined the Camelon Iron Company, and was appointed manager of its London office. He married in 1891 Winifred Moore of Glasgow and sailed to Australia. He was a designer and draughtsman for about six years at Melbourne, and in 1897 established the Australian Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd. Some 10 years later he founded the Lux Foundry Pty Ltd, and held a controlling interest in these companies for the rest of his life. He became very well known in the industrial and commercial life of Melbourne, and during the 1914-18 war did valuable work as a member of the coal board in connexion with the rationing of coal, gas and electric power. He was also appointed one of the seven honorary commissioners to administer the repatriation act, and was deputy chairman until the appointment of the permanent commission in 1920. He was chairman of the royal commission on federal economics, and was a member of the Victorian State electricity commission from its inception. He had great confidence in the future value of the works at Yallourn. In 1924 he was appointed a member of the Commonwealth bank board, was elected chairman in 1926, and was re-elected to that position each year. He was also a director of the Union Trustee Company Ltd., the National Mutual Life Association, the Chamber of Manufactures Insurance Company Ltd., and Robert Harper and Company Ltd. and was a representative or the Commonwealth government in connexion with the Commonwealth Oil Refineries Ltd. From 1922 to 1925 he was president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures, and also for a time president of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia. These many interests gave him a remarkable grasp of the financial position of Australia, and before the depression arrived in 1930 he had warned the federal government that difficult times were coming. When the Scullin government was endeavouring to grapple with the position, which was aggravated in Australia by the low prices being paid for wool and wheat, various currency devices were brought forward, and Gibson's firm attitude towards E. G. Theodore, the treasurer of the day, eventually made possible the adoption of the premiers' plan. There was some intriguing to displace Gibson from the Commonwealth bank board but these efforts were defeated. On 6 May 1931 he was called before the bar of the senate to give his views on the Commonwealth bank bill. He replied to the many questions asked fully and patiently and with such effect that it was said that the bill was dead before he left the chamber. An experienced reporter described it as the finest performance he had ever seen in parliament. Gibson, while disclaiming any intention that the Commonwealth bank should dictate to the government, was determined that no efforts should be spared to prevent inflation. In this he was successful but he felt the strain and responsibility of these years very much. He had a serious illness in 1933 and died on 1 January 1934. Lady Gibson survived him with two sons and five daughters. He was created C.B.E. in 1918, K.B.E. in 1920 and G.B.E. in 1932.

Gibson was quite unassuming and kindly, with a love for literature and art; he painted in water-colours as a hobby and was a good photographer. Though tactful his sincerity and candour were apparent to all, and his absolute sense of justice led to his being much employed as an arbitrator in industrial disputes. The secretary of one union described him as the whitest man he had met in or out of the Labour movement.

The Age and The Argus, Melbourne, 2 January 1934; The Herald, Melbourne, 1 January, 1934; The Bulletin, 10 January 1934, p. 8; Debrett's Peerage, etc, 1933.