Neil McNeil (businessman)

{{Short description|Australian railway contractor and businessman}}

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File:Neil McNeil (1855–1927).png

Neil McNeil (30 December 1855 – 8 May 1927){{cite AuDB |first=Wendy |last=Birman |author-link= |title=McNeil, Neil (1855–1927) |volume=5 |edition= |year=1974 |id2=mcneil-neil-4133 |access-date=31 January 2020 }} was a prominent Australian businessman who was significant in the development of railways across Australia along with Western Australia's timber industry.{{cite web |author1=Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale |title=Mill Manager's Residence |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/446efb31-b9dd-416c-aa8d-7a570f08e41f |website=inHerit |publisher=Government of Western Australia |accessdate=30 January 2020}}{{citation |mode=cs1 |last1=Harvey |first1=Ben |last2=Hatch |first2=Daniel |title=100 most influential: The business leaders who shaped WA – 1829-2013 |url=https://info.thewest.com.au/westadvertising/feature/20131129/downloads/feature.pdf |publisher=The West Australian |archiveurl=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=https://info.thewest.com.au/westadvertising/feature/20131129/downloads/feature.pdf |archivedate=27 January 2020 |url-status=live |date=29 November 2013 |page=13}}

McNeil was born in the Scottish town of Dingwall as the second son of Neil MacNeil (1827–1915), a railway contractor, and Elizabeth (née Urquhart). He emigrated to Victoria with his family at about the age of five and settled in Ballarat, attending Ballarat College. He then joined his father's business, soon becoming superintendent, before becoming a contractor in his own right and constructing railways in South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, along with the metropolitan water supply scheme in Hobart. McNeil came to Western Australia in 1882. In 1894 he was the builder of The Cliffe in Peppermint Grove.{{Citation | author1=E. H. Dean Smith | title=Proposed residence Peppermint Grove for Neil McNeil Esq | date=1893 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/217053893 | accessdate=31 January 2020 }}

He built some of Western Australia's earlier railways.- section about McNeil as part 18, p.229 - 'Neil McNeil' - see {{Citation | author1=Gunzburg, Adrian | author2=Austin, Jeff | author3=Rail Heritage WA | author4=Gunzburg, Adrian | author5=Austin, Jeff | title=Rails through the bush : timber and firewood tramways and railway contractors of Western Australia | date=2008 | publisher=Rail Heritage WA | edition=2nd | isbn=978-0-9803922-2-7 }} The Jarrahdale–Bunbury railway was proposed in 1888,{{Citation | author1=McNeil, Neil & Co | title=Proposal by Messrs Neil McNeil & Co to construct a railway between Bayswater and the Vasse | date=1888 | publisher=Govt. Pr | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/159323526 | accessdate=31 January 2020 }} and in 1893 Neil McNeil & Co constructed the Jarrahdale Junction to Pinjarra, then Pinjarra to Picton Junction lines.in Gunzburg and Austin (2008) Construction of the W.A. Government Railways network, 1879-1931 page 208 The last railway constructed was the Geraldton–Mullewa railway in 1894, also known as the Narngulu to Mullewa railway.Gunzburg and Austin (2008) p.230 - identifies Geraldton Guardian references to the progress of the railway from contract awarded 28 March 1893 to 21 November 1894

McNeil founded Jarrahdale Jarrah Forests and Railways Ltd in 1897.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35095462 |title=JARRAHDALE JARRAH FORESTS AND RAILWAYS. |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=South Australia |date=29 October 1897 |access-date=31 January 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }} He was managing director of the Jarrahdale company until the 1902 amalgamation with Millars.{{Citation | author1=Millar's Timber & Trading Co | author2=Millars' Karri & Jarrah Company (1902) | title=Records | date=1839 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15580473 | accessdate=31 January 2020 }}

In 1905 he was put forward as a potential Lord Mayor of Perth; however, he did not achieve the position.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24837643 |title=THE PERTH MAYORALTY. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Western Australia |date=11 November 1903 |access-date=31 January 2020 |page=9 |via=Trove }}

Other business interests included mines,Such as a Guano mine - see {{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25372174 |title=THE ABROLHOS GUANO INDUSTRY. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Western Australia |date=19 January 1905 |access-date=31 January 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }} orchards in Mount Barker and the Blackwood River area which exported fruit,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44879673 |title=VISIT TO MOUNT BARKER. |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Western Australia |date=3 October 1913 |access-date=31 January 2020 |page=18 |via=Trove }} and horse breeding for carriages. McNeil was also the owner of real estate holdings, some of which were disposed of in 1915.{{Citation | author1=Hope & Klem (Firm) | author2=Learmonth Duffy & Co | title=Cottesloe's finest residential land : these 20 magnificent blocks - owned by Neil McNeil Esq and surrounding his beautiful residence at Peppermint Grove to be sold in the rooms of the auctioneers, Emanuel Buildings, St George's Terrace on Thursday, Novr. 4th, 1915, at 3 p.m | date=1915 | publisher=Learmonth Duffy & Co | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/24488626 | accessdate=31 January 2020 }} He also founded the Perth Polo Club.{{cite book|first=Horace A.|last=Laffaye|title=The Evolution of Polo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9i-bgOjaVysC&pg=PA42|year=2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5415-0|pages=42}}

He was married to Jessie (née Laurie) from 1890 until his death on 8 May 1927. He is buried in the Presbyterian section of Karrakatta Cemetery. The Mcneil house at Perth's Presbyterian Ladies' College is named after him.