Harold Sleigh

"slee")[1] (19 May 1867[2] – 24 April 1933) was an Australian businessman, founder of H. C. Sleigh and Company, involved in shipping and petroleum distribution, best known for its Golden Fleece products and service stations.

Around 1893 he began working for Harrold Brothers, ship brokers and owners of Melbourne, and while with that company he privately tendered for a contract in which his employers were interested.

[7] He took a six-month charter of SS Eskdale and two sister ships Tangier and Asphodel,[8] which were more than capable of filling the contract, plus general cargo and passengers in steerage, for which there was a strong demand, especially to the goldfields.

[9] William Cave of Adelaide acted as agent, then in August 1896 Howard Smith's recently (1890) formed Intercolonial Steamship Company took over the contract.

[14] By the end of the century his trade with South Africa had increased immensely, notably by steamers Inchmona, Henley, Florence Pile, Glanton, Beira, Moel Eilian and George Pyman.

[27] According to one account, Sleigh started in the petroleum trade in 1913, when a customer was unable to pay freight on a shipment of petrol, and the company took possession of the consignment.

[29] He orhanised a Californian oil company to supply four-gallon (US five-gallon) cans of petrol, branded Golden Fleece to his order.

Their only son Hamilton Morton Howard Sleigh (20 March 1896 – 24 November 1979) became partner, and on his father's death took over the company as chairman and chief executive.

[42] Sleigh became seriously ill in December 1932 and died aged 65 at his home "Laradoc", 111 Walsh Street, South Yarra and was buried at the Box Hill Cemetery.