Mr. George Russell

George Russell (1812–1888) immigrated to Tasmania in 1831 to join his half-brother Philip, who had arrived there 10 years earlier. He farmed under Philip's supervision for several years before following John Batman's lead to Port Phillip in 1836. Russell managed the concerns of the newly formed Clyde Company, which was established by Captain Patrick Wood, formerly of the East India Company.

In 1842, Russell secured a lease from the Crown on the Golf Hill property. Four years later, and now a fully-fledged partner, he extended the Clyde Company's holdings to take in Terinallum. When the Clyde assets were dissolved in 1857, Russell purchased the Golf Hill freehold and proceeded to enlarge the property considerably. Terinallum was subsequently sold to the squatter John Cumming.

On a visit to Scotland in 1852, Russell married his cousin Euphemia Leslie Carstairs (1829–67). They lived at Golf Hill until his death in 1888. The property then passed to his only son, who in turn left it to his youngest sister, Janet Biddlecombe, in 1898.

This portrait and its companion painting of Euphemia were painted in London, when the Russells were on their wedding tour, en route to Australia.