Vignette 5: Generosity of the Mortlock family

The University has had a longstanding relationship with the Mortlock family, whose generosity has been pivotal in shaping our success.

The relationship began when John Andrew Tennant Mortlock donated £2,000 in 1926 to purchase new equipment for the Waite Research Institute. In 1936, the Ranson Mortlock Scholarship was created in memory of Frederick Ranson Mortlock, and in the same year, the family donated an additional £25,000. In his will, John left £1,000 per year for 15 years to the Ranson Mortlock Trust, £20,000 for medical school research, and half of his estate for Waite Institute support.

Mortlock’s wife Dorothy continued this family patronage, contributing a £10,000 gift in 1952 and transferring 400 hectares of Martindale Station to the University in 1965. Her ongoing support included a £15,000 donation to the medical school in 1953, annual gifts averaging $30,000 from 1958 onwards, and a $25,000 contribution for Martindale Hall’s renovation.

In 1986, the University gifted Martindale Hall to the people of South Australia to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the state. The Mortlock family has significantly shaped the University through their enduring dedication, financial support and vision.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Giving with impact.  p.16