Colin Stephen Explained

Sir Colin Campbell Stephen (3 May 1872 – 14 September 1937) was an Australian lawyer remembered as the longtime chairman of the Australian Jockey Club (AJC).

History

He was a member of the well-known Stephen family, a son of Septimus Alfred Stephen, MLC. He was educated at All Saints' College, Bathurst and, after a course of private tuition in England, was admitted as a solicitor in 1896, and was accepted as a partner in the firm of Stephen, Jaques and Stephen.^[1]

He was elected a member of the AJC in 1892, and the committee in 1912, serving on the Sir Adrian Knox sub-committee which framed the rules of racing of that year.In 1933 he was tasked with formulating a set of revised rules of racing to be adopted throughout Australia.He was appointed chairman of the AJC on 24 October 1939, succeeding Adrian Knox, who resigned following his appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, succeeding Samuel Griffith.^[2]

Stephen was a successful rider and owner; his racing colours were pale blue with a white cap. His horses included Fidelity, who won the Ascot Vale Stakes in 1936, and Caesar, who took the 1937 race from Ajax.

Recognition

Stephen was knighted in the New Year's 1935 honours list.^[3]

The AJC Spring Stakes race was renamed Colin Stephen Quality Handicap in 1938.

Family

In 1899 he married Dorothy Knox (died 1935), daughter of Edward W. Knox (died 26 June 1933), managing director of Colonial Sugar Refining Co., Ltd on 26 October 1899. They had a home "Llanillo", Bellevue Hill. Their children included:

• Alastair Edward Stephen (27 May 1901^[4] – 4 August 1982) was also a lawyer.^[5] On 10 June 1942 he married Diana Allen,^[6] who died on 4 July 1943.^[7] He then married Winifred Grace Bonnin of Adelaide, who survived him.^{[8] [9]}
• Helen Roslyn Stephen (30 November 1903 – 28 May 1991) married Colonel Thomas L. F. Rutledge on 29 October 1935. She was the author of My Grandfather's House (1986).
• Philippa Stephen (11 February 1907 –) married Denis Allen on 20 February 1943^[10]

Noel Campbell Stephen (c. 1878 – 26 February 1937) was a brother^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Martha Rutledge . Australian Dictionary of Biography: 'Stephen, Sir Colin Campbell (1872–1937)' . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . 1990 . 15 July 2023.
2. News: AJC Chairman Resigns . . XVI . 1061 . New South Wales, Australia . 22 October 1919 . 15 July 2023 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: New South Wales . . 30,263 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 January 1935 . 15 July 2023 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: 1 June 1901 . Family Notices . 1 . The Daily Telegraph . 6857 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: 100 Years' Law . . 18537 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 November 1926 . 15 July 2023 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: 11 June 1942 . Family Notices . 3 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 32,591 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: 5 July 1943 . Family Notices . 8 . . 32,924 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: 16 August 1946 . Family Notices . 8 . . 33,899 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: 16 September 1983 . IN the Supreme Court of New South Wales.—Probate Division.—Notice of intended distribution of estate.—Any person . 4307 . Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales . 126 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: 21 February 1943 . Who Goes Where . 8 . The Sun . 2082 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
11. News: Death of Mr N. C. Stephen . . 30,937 . New South Wales, Australia . 27 February 1937 . 15 July 2023 . 18 . National Library of Australia.