Australian Dictionary of Biography

Robert Gilfillan (1823-1909), merchant and auditor, was born on 5 December 1823 at Borrowstounness, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, son of James Gilfillan, excise officer, and his wife Charlotte, née Anderson. He probably learnt some accounting from his father. In April 1848 he arrived at Auckland, New Zealand, in the Richard Dart with merchandise ranging from boots to chloroform. In January 1849 he was licensed as an auctioneer. In April his brother John Anderson arrived in the Lalla Rookh. The brothers set up as merchants and commission agents. In June Robert organized a meeting of subscribers to the Presbyterian Church. On 30 July 1852 he left Auckland in the Raven and reached Sydney on 22 August. He described his protracted and uncomfortable crossing in a letter to his parents. He apparently succeeded in disposing of some of his heavy stocks of English goods, returned to Auckland and in February 1853 sailed for London in the Fancy. On 28 February 1854 he married Margaret, née Fraser, at Cullen, Banffshire.

He returned to Sydney with his wife in the Royal Lily the same year and traded for many years as Gilfillan & Co., importers and merchants. A director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society in 1862-66, he was also its auditor eleven times between 1870 and 1886. Gilfillan lived at Quiberee, Lavender Bay. He died on 17 July 1909 at North Sydney and was buried in the churchyard of St Thomas's Church of England where he had been a regular worshipper. He was survived by his wife, four sons and three daughters. His estate was valued at £1143.