BRYDONE, THOMAS (1837-1904) was born at West Linton, Peebleshire, and removed with his parents to Blair Athol. He was educated at Perth Academy and entered the office of a commissioner appointed to inquire into the means of lending money to landlords to improve their estates by drainage. He was two years there and then became land steward to the Earl of Buchan at Roxburn, West Lothian; and later to the Duke of Hamilton. He was afterwards a travelling inspector for the West of England Land Co. engaged in the same type of business; was factor to Lord Falmouth in Kent and returned to Roxburn, where oil was discovered. Brydone was a partner in Young's Paraffin Oil Co. (1866-67), but its prospect was defeated by American competition and he was then appointed by the Australian and New Zealand Land Co. to take charge of its properties in New Zealand. The company was an amalgamation of the Land Co. and the Canterbury and Otago Association.

Brydone's claim to the gratitude of New Zealand rests on the fact that he was the practical founder of the frozen meat and dairy industry. He worked hard to establish the Burnside freezing works (of which he was a director) and was responsible for the first shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to London. The dairy factory established at Edendale by his advice was the pioneer in a great expansion of dairying. He was a pioneer also in the use of lime and artificial manures, by which he greatly increased the output of the company's estates at Tokarahi, Totara, Clydevale, and Edendale. He was closely associated with the Otago A. and P. society from its inception (1876) and was president in 1880, 1884, 1885 and 1887. Brydone assisted to form the Agricultural Hall Co. and was a director of the Milburn Lime and Cement Co., and chairman of the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Co. During the dredging boom he took part in the formation of several companies. Brydone died on 17 Jun 1904.

Philpott (p); Critchell and Raymond; Otago Daily Times, 21 Jun 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 72

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