George and Richard Fair

George Fair was born in 1858 and raised in the oil patch of Lambton County surrounded by brothers who were all interested in the oil business. Many of the boys remained single in their early twenties and were eager to achieve new heights in the oil industry. They jumped at the chance to work in the international oil fields because it would provide them with the opportunity to further their careers. George Fair was no exception. His career took him to oil fields in all corners of the world and his final accomplishments had a significant impact on the oil industry in New Zealand.

George Fair travelled much of the time with his brother Richard. They went first to the Pennsylvania oil fields, and then spent time in Italy, Romania, and Galicia (modern Poland and Ukraine). George became known as an expert driller and had knowledge not only of the mechanical operations of the oil drilling equipment, but also of the geological indicators of an oil-bearing region. Thus, he was in high demand by oil companies all over the world to inspect operations and offer advice on how to proceed.

In 1895, newspapers in New Zealand printed several articles in anticipation of George Fair's arrival to their oil fields. Several months previously, Richard Fair had been engaged as a superintendent by the New Plymouth Petroleum Company, operating in the Taranaki Oilfields. Oil had been discovered in this region in 1865, but early attempts at drilling only encountered water. Under the management of Canadian driller W.E. Booth, Richard Fair worked tirelessly on the oil derricks of the field, sometimes for up to 56 hours, persevering when all the other drillers had given up, and found an oil deposit. Despite this early success, the oil wells were not producing quantities sufficient to keep the company in business and in 1904 the New Plymouth Petroleum Company sold its shares to an oil syndicate in Adelaide.

George Fair, who had been travelling throughout Australia to inspect prospective oil fields, was sent to New Plymouth by this Australian syndicate to test his luck in the Taranaki field. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the syndicate gave up. George Fair had confidence in the field and rallied local men together to form a small company, the Moturoa Petroleum Company, to continue drilling operations. In May, 1906, their well, named the Birthday well because it was started on Mrs. Fair's birthday, struck an oil gusher which set off a frenzy of activity in New Zealand. The Taranaki oil field continued operations until its closure in 1972. Unfortunately, George Fair was not able to enjoy his success. He died in 1906 of complications from appendicitis.

Richard Fair left the oil industry after his brother's death and in 1914 he bought the King's hotel in Sydney which he operated until 1921. The excitement of the oil fields pulled him back to that industry and in 1925 he led the first Australian expedition for oil to New Guinea. 

Video Clip. Jane Teskey describes the lives of George and Richard Fair who worked in Australia and New Zealand

Duration: 1:52 minutes - Transcription