Hugh Denison

He changed his surname by deed poll in 1907 to avoid confusion with his uncle Sir Hugh Dixson.

[5] Robert Dixson set up his own business in William Street, Melbourne in 1872, taking advantage of a loophole in the acts governing interstate trade.

[6] Robert Dixson & Co. set up a factory in Halifax Street, Adelaide in 1877 around the same time as Feldheim, Jacobs and Co. of Melbourne.

In 1897 he purchased James Chambers' Montefiore Hill home, which had been the setting-out point for John McDouall Stuart's successful sixth expedition.

[8] He then purchased Richard Rouse's "Guntawang", near Gulgong, which he renamed Eumaralla Estate, where he bred thoroughbred horses and Dorset Horn sheep.

Distinguished-looking, with a neat moustache, Denison was a gifted public speaker with an approachable and courteous manner.

He was a keen sportsman; apart from horse racing he was interested in rowing, cricket, football, bowls and golf.

The original purpose of Dreadnought Fund (which attracted large donations from such wealthy businessmen as George Henry Bosch and Samuel McCaughey) was intended to purchase a battleship for the Royal Navy, but eventually was used to establish the Royal Australian Naval College.

He contributed generously to the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia and helped finance its newspaper Reveille.

He left part of his estate, valued for probate at £203,602, to the Sir Hugh Denison Foundation and St Paul's College in the University of Sydney, and to the Church of England Homes at Carlingford.

In 1926-28, he was appointed Commissioner for Australia in the United States of America, but had limited influence by his lack of diplomatic status, and strongly urged Prime Minister Bruce to establish an Australian legation in Washington.

Cape Denison in Antarctica was named for him, recognising his substantial contribution to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and the provision of the majority of the expedition's wireless telegraphy equipment by his Australasian Wireless which was deployed at Cape Denison (then known as Adelie Land) and Macquarie Island.