Scotch College

The long Lillie line - the fifth generation

When James Lillie passed through the portals of Scotch College in 1886 he began a tradition that would see five generations of Lillie boys wear the school badge.

From father to son, the link with Scotch has remained unbroken and today continues with Year 4 student, Jack Lillie. With the family's third century of involvement with Scotch about to begin, who knows how long the line will continue.

The family's association with the school began with their patriarch James Lillie, who was born in Scotland in 1833 and migrated to Australia in 1854. After marrying Isabella Allen in Castlemaine, James and his large family of five sons and five daughters moved to St Kilda, where he moved rapidly up the ladder at Buckley and Nunn to become managing director in 1902.

His eldest son James L. Lillie was the first of the family to attend Scotch College and was enrolled in 1886, soon followed by his four brothers. On leaving Scotch, James entered the field of insurance and rose to the position of manager of the Royal Insurance Company. James married Louise McEachern had three sons.

The eldest, Cyril McEachern Lillie, began at the school in 1908 and was later joined by his brothers Geoffrey and John (Jack). On leaving Scotch, Cyril joined the Light Horse Brigade and served in Gallipoli as a Captain. In 1917 Cyril was awarded the DSO. Following WWI Cyril travelled to England to learn the wool trade and returned to Australia with his wife, Treasure Moar and two children, in time to sign up once again for WWII, this time as a Colonel.

Cyril's eldest son, James Moar Lillie attended Scotch College from 1940-1947 and was a member of the First Eleven and First Eighteen. On leaving Scotch James followed his father into the wool trade, and the family company, Fox and Lillie Australia, was founded. James married Colette Harrison in 1948 and had three sons and one daughter.

James, Peter and Jonathon all attended Scotch, and James and Jonathon are now involved in the family business.

James Harrison Lillie attended Scotch between 1963-1974. Today James' son, John (Jack) James Lillie is in Grade 4, having joined the school in 1994.