Guest speaker – Allan Myers AC KC
Allan Myers was born in 1947 and was raised in the small town of Dunkeld, Victoria at the foothills of the Grampians in the Western District. His father, John Myers, worked as a butcher following his service as a stoker in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve during World War II. Allan is believed to be only the second person From Dunkeld to go to university at that time when he was a young man.
Mr Allan Myers is a Distinguished Fellow at the Australia India Institute and Former Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.
Allan is one of His Majesty’s Counsel in all Australian States and Territories and is a barrister in England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. His practice has been predominantly in commercial law and international arbitration. He is also a leading philanthropist and businessman.
It was during his professional career that Allan bought the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld and turned it into his best known passions; art, wine and Dunkeld itself – given that for more than 150 years, the Myers family have lived in this town.
In 1977, Allan bought and developed farming land to a scale now known as the Dunkeld Pastoral Company, giving much back to the local community which has become a popular tourist destination. Myers’ pastoral group is also behind the town’s hardware store and wine store and he has put money into local school buildings and accommodation for the retired and the aged