Elworthy expanded the farm by aggressively acquiring neighbouring properties in the area inland from Timaru, and by 1872 he was running 46,000 sheep on 82,000 acres (33 000 hectares).
Elworthy took a leading part in social, public and business matters in South Canterbury, serving at one time or another as chairman of the Waimate County Council and the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and as founding director of the South Canterbury Refrigerating Company.
His biography A Power in the Land: Churchill Julius, 1847–1938, published 1971 was written by Anthony & Gertrude Elworthy.
His youngest son, John Churchill Elworthy was a captain in the Royal New Zealand Navy and later a farmer.
Another great-grandson of Edward is Charles Elworthy, a leading New Zealand economist and social scientist.
He was also the father of Charles, Lord Elworthy who was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force both during and after World War 2.
After his death on 22 January 1899 from a heart attack, the land was divided among his three sons, Arthur, Herbert and Percy.