Alfred Richard Outtrim
Encyclopedia
Alfred Richard Outtrim was a long serving Victorian
politician who gained a reputation as a competent government minister a promoter of women's suffrage
and regional development.
Before Federation he was a liberal Minister
in the Munro, Shiels
and McLean
governments. He served seven terms in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
from 1885 before being defeated by F. J. Field in 1902. Joining with Labor, Outtrim successfully recontested Maryborough in 1904 and then served an additional seven terms to 1920 ending his political career as the father of the house
.
Before the 1890s, there was no formal party system in Victoria. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. From the 1880s, until after Federation in 1901, Victorian politics were dominated by Protectionist Liberals, who were opposed by Free Trade Conservatives. The Labor Party did not emerge as a major party until after 1910, which meant that Victoria was slow to develop a two-party system. Outtrim's political career reflects this strongly.
Over the course of his 34 year parliamentary career, Outtrim changed parties several times: from 1885 to 1902 he served as a liberal and supported liberal and reform administrations. In 1902 he was defeated in Maryborough but returned representing Labor
from 1904 to 1916. With the split in Labor over conscription
Outtrim sided with Prime Minister Billy Hughes
and became a Nationalist
from 1916. Outtrim was now the father of the Victorian Assembly and in 1920 he was finally defeated by Labor's George Frost.
.
His family moved to Maryborough
1854. As a young man Outtrim became manager of the Maryborough branch of Cobb and Co
, worked as a wine and spirit merchant and with a brother purchased the carrying business of McCulloch & Company.
Outtrim became a director and legal manager of mining companies.
Alfred courted Jane Lavinia Tutcher who was born in Somerset
and had come to Maryborough in 1856. Her mother and stepfather owned the McIvor Hotel. On 7 March 1871 Alfred and Jane where married at the Maryborough Christ Church. Between 1871 and 1883 they had five daughters and two sons.
By 1885 Alfred was an auctioneer, general commission agent, district auditor, legal manager and director of local gold-mining companies.
in 1883.
A councilor for six years, Outtrim was Maryborough mayor from 1884-86.
In December 1885 Outtrim entered colonial politics winning a by-election
for Maryborough and Talbot.
He sat on five royal commissions and seven select committees. He was appointed chairman for seven of these.
Outtrim introduced the 1896 and 1898 referendum bills against the Victorian Upper House
which prompted Sir Alexander Peacock
to describe him as a radical politician.
In 1899 Outtrim was appointed Railways minister in Allan McLean's
liberal government and proceeded to promote regional Victoria, introducing a railway bill to connect Woomelang
to Mildura
.
A supporter of women's suffrage
in 1899 Outtrim addressed the Victorian Parliament thus, “I notice that those who oppose women's franchise, as a rule, are those who are the wealthiest in the community and they do not know who they are who have to go out between five and six in the morning. But I very often have to catch an early train and travel on these trams and I have no hesitation in saying that there are hundreds of women – honest, respectable women – travelling at that time of the morning to their occupations, having perhaps sick fathers or mothers depending on their earnings, and doing all they can to keep the wolf from the door.”
In 1913 Outtrim served as a minister in the 14 day Labor government of George Elmslie
.
In 1916 Outtrim's loyalty to the British Empire
saw him split with the Labor party over their anti-conscription stance and he ultimately joined the conservative Nationalist Party.
Outtrim was defeated in Maryborough by Labor candidate George Clement Frost in the 1920 Victorian state election.
Outtrim died on 21 December 1925 at his home in Carisbrook east of Maryborough. He was berried with Anglican rites in Maryborough cemetery. He was survived by his wife and four children. For his commemoration his family donated an set of stained-glass windows to Christ Church, where he had been a regular attender and where he and Jane had married 54 years before.
The township of Outtrim
, southwest of Korumburra, is named after him.
Outtrim Avenue in the Canberra suburb of Calwell
is also named in his honour.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
politician who gained a reputation as a competent government minister a promoter of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and regional development.
Before Federation he was a liberal Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
in the Munro, Shiels
William Shiels
William Shiels , Australian colonial politician, was the 16th Premier of Victoria.-Biography:Shiels was born in County Londonderry, Ireland of a Presbyterian family and arrived in Melbourne as a child in 1853...
and McLean
Allan McLean (Australian politician)
Allan McLean was an Australian politician, the 19th Premier of Victoria.McLean was born in the highlands of Scotland and came to Australia as a child in 1842 with his family. He later said 'were practically frozen out of Scotland' by 'an exceptionally severe winter'...
governments. He served seven terms in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
from 1885 before being defeated by F. J. Field in 1902. Joining with Labor, Outtrim successfully recontested Maryborough in 1904 and then served an additional seven terms to 1920 ending his political career as the father of the house
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
.
Before the 1890s, there was no formal party system in Victoria. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. From the 1880s, until after Federation in 1901, Victorian politics were dominated by Protectionist Liberals, who were opposed by Free Trade Conservatives. The Labor Party did not emerge as a major party until after 1910, which meant that Victoria was slow to develop a two-party system. Outtrim's political career reflects this strongly.
Over the course of his 34 year parliamentary career, Outtrim changed parties several times: from 1885 to 1902 he served as a liberal and supported liberal and reform administrations. In 1902 he was defeated in Maryborough but returned representing Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
from 1904 to 1916. With the split in Labor over conscription
Conscription in Australia
Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...
Outtrim sided with Prime Minister Billy Hughes
Billy Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
and became a Nationalist
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
from 1916. Outtrim was now the father of the Victorian Assembly and in 1920 he was finally defeated by Labor's George Frost.
Early life
In December 1851 when he was just 6, Alfred, his two sisters and four brothers and their mother arrived from England to join their father. Shortly after, his father and youngest brother died and the family was forced to live in a tent in CollingwoodCollingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
.
His family moved to Maryborough
Maryborough, Victoria
-Education:Maryborough has three schools:*Highview Christian Community College*Maryborough Education Centre Years Prep–12*St Augustine's Primary School Grades Prep–6-Music:...
1854. As a young man Outtrim became manager of the Maryborough branch of Cobb and Co
Cobb and Co
Cobb and Co is the name of a transportation company in Australia. It was prominent in the late 19th century when it operated stagecoaches to many areas in the outback and at one point in several other countries, as well....
, worked as a wine and spirit merchant and with a brother purchased the carrying business of McCulloch & Company.
Outtrim became a director and legal manager of mining companies.
Alfred courted Jane Lavinia Tutcher who was born in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and had come to Maryborough in 1856. Her mother and stepfather owned the McIvor Hotel. On 7 March 1871 Alfred and Jane where married at the Maryborough Christ Church. Between 1871 and 1883 they had five daughters and two sons.
By 1885 Alfred was an auctioneer, general commission agent, district auditor, legal manager and director of local gold-mining companies.
Political career
Outtrim unsuccessfully contested Maryborough and TalbotElectoral district of Maryborough and Talbot
The Electoral district of Maryborough and Talbot was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly abolished in 1892.-Members for Maryborough and Talbot:-See also:*Parliaments of the Australian states and territories...
in 1883.
A councilor for six years, Outtrim was Maryborough mayor from 1884-86.
In December 1885 Outtrim entered colonial politics winning a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for Maryborough and Talbot.
He sat on five royal commissions and seven select committees. He was appointed chairman for seven of these.
Outtrim introduced the 1896 and 1898 referendum bills against the Victorian Upper House
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
which prompted Sir Alexander Peacock
Alexander Peacock
Sir Alexander James Peacock, KCMG , Australian politician, was the 20th Premier of Victoria.Peacock was born of Scottish descent at Creswick, the first Victorian Premier born after the gold rush of the 1850s and the attainment of self-government in Victoria. He was distantly related to the family...
to describe him as a radical politician.
In 1899 Outtrim was appointed Railways minister in Allan McLean's
Allan McLean (Australian politician)
Allan McLean was an Australian politician, the 19th Premier of Victoria.McLean was born in the highlands of Scotland and came to Australia as a child in 1842 with his family. He later said 'were practically frozen out of Scotland' by 'an exceptionally severe winter'...
liberal government and proceeded to promote regional Victoria, introducing a railway bill to connect Woomelang
Woomelang, Victoria
Woomelang is a town in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Sunraysia Highway, kilometres north west of the state capital, Melbourne, kilometres south east of Mildura and kilometres north of Horsham...
to Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
.
A supporter of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
in 1899 Outtrim addressed the Victorian Parliament thus, “I notice that those who oppose women's franchise, as a rule, are those who are the wealthiest in the community and they do not know who they are who have to go out between five and six in the morning. But I very often have to catch an early train and travel on these trams and I have no hesitation in saying that there are hundreds of women – honest, respectable women – travelling at that time of the morning to their occupations, having perhaps sick fathers or mothers depending on their earnings, and doing all they can to keep the wolf from the door.”
In 1913 Outtrim served as a minister in the 14 day Labor government of George Elmslie
George Elmslie (Australian politician)
George Alexander Elmslie , Australian politician, was the 25th Premier of Victoria, and the first Labor Premier....
.
In 1916 Outtrim's loyalty to the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
saw him split with the Labor party over their anti-conscription stance and he ultimately joined the conservative Nationalist Party.
Outtrim was defeated in Maryborough by Labor candidate George Clement Frost in the 1920 Victorian state election.
Outtrim died on 21 December 1925 at his home in Carisbrook east of Maryborough. He was berried with Anglican rites in Maryborough cemetery. He was survived by his wife and four children. For his commemoration his family donated an set of stained-glass windows to Christ Church, where he had been a regular attender and where he and Jane had married 54 years before.
The township of Outtrim
Outtrim, Victoria
Outtrim is a locality in Victoria, Australia. It is located south of Korumburra off the Korumburra to Wonthaggi Road and is southeast of Melbourne.-History:...
, southwest of Korumburra, is named after him.
Outtrim Avenue in the Canberra suburb of Calwell
Calwell, Australian Capital Territory
Calwell is a medium sized suburb of Canberra, Australia in the district of Tuggeranong. Tuggeranong Hill is on its southern border and the Tuggeranong Homestead is to the north...
is also named in his honour.