Electoral district of Brown Hill-Ivanhoe
Encyclopedia
The Electoral district of Brown Hill-Ivanhoe (sometimes styled Brownhill-Ivanhoe) was a Legislative Assembly
electorate
in the state
of Western Australia
. It covered part of the Goldfields city of Boulder
, near Kalgoorlie
, and neighbouring mining areas. It was created at the 1911 redistribution out of the former seats of Brown Hill
and Ivanhoe
, and was first contested at the 1911 election
. It was abolished in the 1948 redistribution, with its area split between the neighbouring electorates of Boulder
and Hannans
, taking effect from the 1950 election. The seat was a very safe one for the Labor Party
.
John Scaddan
. The election at which the seat was created, held on 3 October 1911, swept Labor to power in Western Australia, and Scaddan was shortly thereafter sworn in as Premier
. The Labor government completed its first term in office successfully, but struggled in its second and by the end of 1915 had lost its majority in the Assembly. On 27 July 1916, following a successful want of confidence motion on the floor of the Assembly, Scaddan resigned as Premier and became Opposition Leader once again. His replacement as Premier, the Liberal Party's Frank Wilson, appointed a six-member ministry who, having accepted an office of profit under the crown, were obliged to resign their seats and stand for ministerial by-election
s. Scaddan opted to resign his seat on 8 August in order to contest one of the incoming ministers, Robert Robinson in Canning
. On 19 August 1916, Labor candidate John Lutey
was elected unopposed to fill the vacancy. However, upon Scaddan's narrow loss in Canning, Lutey resigned from the seat on 15 September 1916 before being sworn in to allow Scaddan to regain his seat, which he did at the resulting by-election on 7 October 1916 against two minor-party candidates.
Scaddan became caught up in the conscription crisis which split the Labor Party nationally. A considerable number of Western Australian Labor members supported conscription, although the party's platform was opposed to it. A plebiscite
held on the question at the initiative of Prime Minister
Billy Hughes
showed Western Australia as a whole to be strongly supportive of conscription, with almost 70% voting yes as against 48% nationally. The Western Australian party led by its secretary Alick McCallum
initially adopted an approach which allowed both sides to disagree amicably and remain in the movement, but ultimately, this proved impossible as the 1917 federal election
loomed and Labor members were forced to choose between the Official Labor and National Labor
Senate
teams. Scaddan's own position was unclear until, on 6 April 1917, he wrote a letter to McCallum stating that he was "compelled to give first consideration to the dictates of his national conscience as against his party conscience", and as such would stand by Hughes. By June, a Nationalist
grouping had developed which was led by Henry Lefroy
and incorporated National Labor and the Country Party
as coalition partners with the former Liberal Party. Scaddan was appointed as a minister in the new government on 28 June 1917 and had to resign and contest a by-election. A very hostile campaign followed, led by the Westralian Worker newspaper and by McCallum himself, and on 21 July 1917, Scaddan was defeated by John Lutey
, who claimed the victory as a triumph of principles over men. This was only the second occasion in Western Australia's parliamentary history—the first having been the defeat of half of the Morgans Ministry
in December 1901—that a Minister had failed to retain his seat at a ministerial by-election resulting from his appointment.
Lutey served as Chairman of Committees from 1924 until 1930 under Philip Collier
's administration, and remained the member for the seat until his death in 1932. At the resulting by-election, Frederick Smith was returned unopposed on 14 July 1932. He served as Minister for Justice and Minister for Railways in the Willcock Ministry
from 1936 until 1939. He held the seat until its abolishment at the 1950 election, at which he retired from politics.
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
electorate
Electoral districts of Western Australia
The Western Australian Legislative Assembly is elected from 59 single-member electoral districts. These districts are often referred to as electorates or seats....
in the state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It covered part of the Goldfields city of Boulder
Boulder, Western Australia
Boulder was a town in the Western Australian goldfields east of Perth and bordering onto the town of Kalgoorlie in the Eastern Goldfields region. Until 1989 it was part of its own municipality. In 1989 the towns of Kalgoorlie and Boulder were merged to form the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder...
, near Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
, and neighbouring mining areas. It was created at the 1911 redistribution out of the former seats of Brown Hill
Electoral district of Brown Hill
The Electoral district of Brown Hill was a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. It was named for a local land feature, and covered part of the Goldfields city of Boulder, near Kalgoorlie. It was created at the 1904 redistribution and was merged in 1911 with the...
and Ivanhoe
Electoral district of Ivanhoe (Western Australia)
The Electoral district of Ivanhoe was a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. It was named for a local settlement, and covered part of the Goldfields city of Boulder, near Kalgoorlie. It was created at the 1904 redistribution and was merged in 1911 with the neighbouring...
, and was first contested at the 1911 election
Western Australian state election, 1911
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 3 October 1911 to elect 50 members to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. The Labor party, led by Opposition Leader John Scaddan, defeated the conservative Ministerialist government led by Premier Frank Wilson...
. It was abolished in the 1948 redistribution, with its area split between the neighbouring electorates of Boulder
Electoral district of Boulder
Boulder was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1901 to 1977.The district was located in the Goldfields-Esperance region, and was based in the town of Boulder and its suburbs...
and Hannans
Electoral district of Hannans
Hannans was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1901 to 1956.The district was located in the Goldfields-Esperance region, and was based in the city of Kalgoorlie and surrounding mining districts, and was one of several districts...
, taking effect from the 1950 election. The seat was a very safe one for the Labor Party
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...
.
History
Its first member, who had previously been the member for Ivanhoe since 1904, was Opposition LeaderLeader of the Opposition (Western Australia)
The Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia is the leader of the largest minority political party or coalition of parties in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia. By convention, he or she is generally a member of the Legislative Assembly...
John Scaddan
John Scaddan
John Scaddan, CMG , popularly known as "Happy Jack", was Premier of Western Australia from 7 October 1911 until 27 July 1916.- Biography :...
. The election at which the seat was created, held on 3 October 1911, swept Labor to power in Western Australia, and Scaddan was shortly thereafter sworn in as Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
. The Labor government completed its first term in office successfully, but struggled in its second and by the end of 1915 had lost its majority in the Assembly. On 27 July 1916, following a successful want of confidence motion on the floor of the Assembly, Scaddan resigned as Premier and became Opposition Leader once again. His replacement as Premier, the Liberal Party's Frank Wilson, appointed a six-member ministry who, having accepted an office of profit under the crown, were obliged to resign their seats and stand for ministerial by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s. Scaddan opted to resign his seat on 8 August in order to contest one of the incoming ministers, Robert Robinson in Canning
Electoral district of Canning
The Electoral district of Canning was an electorate in the state of Western Australia. The electorate, which was named for the Canning River which ran through the electorate, was first contested at the 1897 elections and was abolished in the 1988 redistribution...
. On 19 August 1916, Labor candidate John Lutey
John Lutey
John Thomas Lutey was the Australian Labor Party member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Brownhill-Ivanhoe from 1917 to 1932....
was elected unopposed to fill the vacancy. However, upon Scaddan's narrow loss in Canning, Lutey resigned from the seat on 15 September 1916 before being sworn in to allow Scaddan to regain his seat, which he did at the resulting by-election on 7 October 1916 against two minor-party candidates.
Scaddan became caught up in the conscription crisis which split the Labor Party nationally. A considerable number of Western Australian Labor members supported conscription, although the party's platform was opposed to it. A plebiscite
Australian plebiscite, 1916
The 1916 Australian plebiscite was held on 28 October 1916. It was the first non-binding Australian plebiscite, and contained one question concerning Military Service....
held on the question at the initiative of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Billy Hughes
Billy Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
showed Western Australia as a whole to be strongly supportive of conscription, with almost 70% voting yes as against 48% nationally. The Western Australian party led by its secretary Alick McCallum
Alick McCallum
Alexander "Alick" McCallum was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for South Fremantle in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1921 to 1935. He served as Minister for Works from 1924 to 1930. From 1933 to 1935 he was Deputy Premier of Western Australia and Minister for...
initially adopted an approach which allowed both sides to disagree amicably and remain in the movement, but ultimately, this proved impossible as the 1917 federal election
Australian federal election, 1917
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 May 1917. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
loomed and Labor members were forced to choose between the Official Labor and National Labor
National Labor Party
The National Labor Party was the name used by the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes for himself and his followers after he was expelled from the Australian Labor Party in November 1916 over his pro-conscription stance in relation to World War I...
Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
teams. Scaddan's own position was unclear until, on 6 April 1917, he wrote a letter to McCallum stating that he was "compelled to give first consideration to the dictates of his national conscience as against his party conscience", and as such would stand by Hughes. By June, 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...
grouping had developed which was led by Henry Lefroy
Henry Lefroy
Sir Henry Bruce Lefroy KCMG was the eleventh Premier of Western Australia.-Biography:Lefroy was born in Perth, Western Australia on 24 March 1854. His father was Anthony O'Grady Lefroy, Colonial Treasurer of Western Australia for over 30 years...
and incorporated National Labor and the Country Party
National Party of Western Australia
The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity....
as coalition partners with the former Liberal Party. Scaddan was appointed as a minister in the new government on 28 June 1917 and had to resign and contest a by-election. A very hostile campaign followed, led by the Westralian Worker newspaper and by McCallum himself, and on 21 July 1917, Scaddan was defeated by John Lutey
John Lutey
John Thomas Lutey was the Australian Labor Party member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Brownhill-Ivanhoe from 1917 to 1932....
, who claimed the victory as a triumph of principles over men. This was only the second occasion in Western Australia's parliamentary history—the first having been the defeat of half of the Morgans Ministry
Morgans ministry
The Morgans Ministry was the fourth ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Alf Morgans of the Ministerialist faction. It succeeded the First Leake Ministry on 21 November 1901, and was followed by the Second Leake Ministry on 23 December 1901....
in December 1901—that a Minister had failed to retain his seat at a ministerial by-election resulting from his appointment.
Lutey served as Chairman of Committees from 1924 until 1930 under Philip Collier
Philip Collier
Philip Collier was Premier of Western Australia for nine years, the longest ever term for an Australian Labor Party premier....
's administration, and remained the member for the seat until his death in 1932. At the resulting by-election, Frederick Smith was returned unopposed on 14 July 1932. He served as Minister for Justice and Minister for Railways in the Willcock Ministry
Willcock Ministry
The Willcock Ministry was the 19th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier John Willcock. It succeeded the Second Collier Ministry on 27 August 1936, upon the resignation of Philip Collier as Premier on ill health grounds...
from 1936 until 1939. He held the seat until its abolishment at the 1950 election, at which he retired from politics.
Members for Brown Hill-Ivanhoe
| Member | Party | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Scaddan John Scaddan John Scaddan, CMG , popularly known as "Happy Jack", was Premier of Western Australia from 7 October 1911 until 27 July 1916.- Biography :... |
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... |
3 October 1911 | 8 August 1916 | |
| John Lutey John Lutey John Thomas Lutey was the Australian Labor Party member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Brownhill-Ivanhoe from 1917 to 1932.... |
Labor | 19 August 1916 | 15 September 1916 | |
| John Scaddan John Scaddan John Scaddan, CMG , popularly known as "Happy Jack", was Premier of Western Australia from 7 October 1911 until 27 July 1916.- Biography :... |
Labor | 7 October 1916 | 7 April 1917 | |
| National Labor National Labor Party The National Labor Party was the name used by the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes for himself and his followers after he was expelled from the Australian Labor Party in November 1916 over his pro-conscription stance in relation to World War I... |
7 April 1917 | 28 June 1917 | ||
| John Lutey John Lutey John Thomas Lutey was the Australian Labor Party member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Brownhill-Ivanhoe from 1917 to 1932.... |
Labor | 21 July 1917 | 22 June 1932 | |
| Frederick Smith | Labor | 14 July 1932 | 25 March 1950 | |