It is 30 years since they last hung in the Upper Murray but now portraits of two brothers have found a new home at the Corryong RSL Hall.
William Malcolm Chisholm and Colin John Chisholm both served in WWI and were wounded in action.
The elder brother by two years, Malcolm was the eldest of three children to Dr William and Isabel (née Mitchell) Chisholm. Her family owned and ran Bringenbrong Station and Malcolm would spend every holiday at Khancoban. His brother, Colin, would later inherit the property from his uncle, John Mitchell.
Malcolm joined the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in England, becoming a lieutenant. He embarked for action with the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment just days after the declaration of war was made.
He died on August 27th, 1914 from a wound in the stomach incurred while fighting against the Germans at Ligny-en-Cambrésis, near Cambrai in France.
In 2014, he was officially recognised by the Australian War Memorial as being the first Australian to be killed in WWI. The reason it took so long for this recognition was that he had been serving with the 1st East Lancashire Regiment, a non-Australian regiment.
Colin Chisholm joined the Army in 1911 as Trooper in the 1st King Edwards Horse, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and commanding the 8th Light Horse.
He was wounded twice – on May 13th, 1915 near Ypres in Belgium and on March 22nd, 1918 near Rossel in France.
Upon his return to Australia, Colin established a successful thoroughbred stud breeding operation at Khancoban Station. A staunch supporter of country racing, he was also president of the Towong Turf Club from 1926-1958, the year of his death; leaving a handsome legacy of £500 to the club.
The two portraits were painted by noted UK artist, Sydney White, and shipped to Australia after the war where they were hung on the walls of Khancoban Station.
Following the sale of the property in 1995, Harry Chisholm has had custody of the paintings but he no longer has room for them and thought it fitting that they be returned to the Upper Murray for display.
This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 1 May 2025.
