William Robert ROLPH

• Individual Picture Notes
  • William Robert Rolph

• General Notes
  • William was born on 26 March 1864 at Carrick, Tasmania, only surviving son of Daniel Rolph, licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, and his wife Henrietta Louisa, née Ives. Educated at Launceston, he worked for (Sir Adye) Douglas & (G. T.) Collins, solicitors, and then for the mercantile firm Dalgetty, Moore (later Du Croz, Smith) & Co. About 1886, after selling a Cleveland hotel inherited earlier from his uncle William Rolph Thornell, he left Tasmania for mercantile employment in Queensland and Sydney.
    
    A competent violinist, Rolph subsequently travelled to London with his sister Ada (later Madame Senac), but eye trouble compelled him to abandon his intention of studying music there. On 30 January 1892 at St Marylebone Parish Church he married Emily Jane Bickell (d.1936), returning with her to Launceston where he became chief clerk in the Railway Department. About 1897, after a brief mining and sharebroking partnership with Edward Sheargold, he became a public accountant and trade trustee in partnership with fellow violin enthusiast Alexander T. Young.
    
    In November 1897 Rolph and Young became associated with the Launceston Examiner whose proprietor Henry Button retired next year. Rolph and Button were members of the same Congregational church. It was not, however, until 12 May 1914 (the day after Button's death) that Rolph's name was printed, as publisher, in the colophon of the Examiner. In 1916, when Young retired, the firm became W. R. Rolph & Sons. Under Rolph's direction the Examiner published the Weekly Courier in 1901-35 and established the Saturday Evening Express in 1924 and the commercial radio station 7EX in 1938.
    
    Rolph retained his interest in music: he was a foundation member (1903) of the Launceston Literary and Musical Competitions Association, a member of the advisory committee of the Australian Music Examinations Board and vice-president of four Launceston bands. He was also vice-president of the Australian Provincial Press Association and at various times a committee-member of the Tasmanian Permanent Executors and Trustees Association Ltd, Equitable Building Society, Launceston Public Library, Royal Society of Tasmania (northern branch), Overseas League, Launceston General Hospital and Tasmanian Automobile Club. A slightly built man, once keen on boxing, lacrosse and swimming, he helped to inaugurate the 'Learn to Swim' campaign.
    
    Rolph died at his home Strathairlie, Launceston, on 23 January 1948, survived by three sons and a daughter. The Examiner editorial mourned him as a man 'who always followed the dictates of a gentle nature and a kind heart'.

Details of William's family with Emily Jane BICKELL