Rumsey, Herbert John (1866 - 1956)

Born at Leamington, Warwickshire, England, on 4 February 1866 and died at Dundas, N.S.W., on 1 February 1956.  

His family migrated to Australia in 1872, and his father became an instructor at the Sydney Technical College. 

Young Rumsey had a keen interest in seeds and plants and developed the knowledge which provided the background to his widespread horticultural interests. 

His business of Rumsey Seeds Pty Ltd was founded in 1895, and he held office in the Nurserymens’ and Seedsmens’ Association. 

He travelled widely — to the U.S.A. in 1915 and Great Britain in 1924, 1930-31 and 1938. 

In addition to horticulture he had a strong interest in genealogy and was a founder of the Australian Society of Genealogy (1932); he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London) in the same year.

Rumsey wrote extensively on horticulture and genealogy.

In 1937 Rumsey produced 'Pioneers of Sydney Cove' in a limited edition of 150 numbered copies, privately printed by Ernest Shea. Priced at three guineas it sold quickly, achieving notoriety when the sesquicentenary (1938) celebrations proceeded without reference to convicts — Rumsey campaigned vigorously in the press to change this attitude.

While working in the District Censor's Office in 1941-45 (WW2) he made a collection of postage stamps, taken from letters to prisoners of war and internees, which he gave to the Australian War Memorial in 1948.

A teetotaller and non-smoker, Rumsey was a trustee of Dundas Methodist Church. He had a thatch of thick hair and a grizzled beard.

Collecting localities for 'Rumsey, H.J.' from AVH (2025)

Data from 232 specimens