President Sir Francis Suttor Biography
Sir Francis Suttor (1839 – 1915)
President Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales 1907 - 1915
Francis Suttor was born in Bathurst, the grandson of George Suttor, one of the foundering members of the Cumberland Society.
On leaving the King’s School at Parramatta he managed his father’s properties in the Bathurst region, becoming a noted breeder of sheep and carriage horses. He was a widely respected judge at local shows.
In 1875 he entered parliament and served in nine ministries. He was a trustee of the National Art Gallery and the Australian Museum, a member of the University of Sydney senate, and president of the NSW Sheepbreeders’ Association.
On becoming president of the Society, Suttor immediately sponsored a new act of parliament to add two parcels of land to the existing Showground: in 1911 the entire ground was signed over to the Society in perpetuity. With title finally secure, Council launched a building programme which saw the construction of new pavilions, a grandstand, the Agricultural Hall and the Royal Hall of Industries.
The Grand Parade and the publication of the Royal Agricultural Society Annual were innovations during his term.
A generous minded, dignified man, Francis Suttor was a hard worker who expected and received a strong commitment from Council members, many of whom he had recruited for their particular talents.
During his presidency the Society made remarkable progress with the doubling of membership and revenue. When Francis Suttor died suddenly during the 1915 Show he was mourned by many in the community.
A full list of Presidents can be found here.