Rags to Riches - The mysterious 42 Million Dollar Man - John Henry Challis.

In 1890 the University of Sydney received 250,000 Pounds from the Estate of John H Challis.

It was the first major private benefaction. In today's money , that is $ 42,000,000!

The gift was used to create professorships in Law, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Biology,Civil Engineering English Literature, History and Philosophy.

Challis thus made a major contribution to Sydney.

He arrived in Sydney at the age of 22 with little money.Over the next 26 years he worked as a merchant, and clearly made a lot of money.

What do we know about him ?

The answer seems to be, not very much; even though Challis House is in Martin Place and Challis Avenue , Potts Point is named after him.