Hugh Main
Encyclopedia
Hugh Main was an Australia
n politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1920 until 1938, representing the electorates of Cootamundra
(1920–1927) and Temora
(1927–1938). Initially elected as a Progressive
, he was a member of the party's rural "True Blues" faction that by 1927 had evolved into the Country Party
.
Main was born on the west coast of Scotland
, some sources state at Ardrossan
, others at Saltcoats
, and was educated at Tonbridge School
in England
and St Peter's College and Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia
. He worked as an orchardist at Clare
for a time, before establishing a wheat and wool property at Bethungra
in New South Wales
around 1906. He was also a successful breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. Main enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
in 1916, and saw active service in France
during World War I
, rising to the rank of sergeant. He returned to his Bethungra farm in 1919 with a highly regarded service record.
Main entered politics for the first time at the 1920 state election, when he was endorsed as a Progressive for multi-member Cootamundra
. He campaigned hard on rural issues, distanced himself from city interests and won in one of the largest upsets in New South Wales history when he defeated the incumbent Premier, Nationalist William Holman
, for the third and final seat. As a Progressive MLA, he was one of the "True Blues" who broke with the party leadership in 1921 to oppose a coalition with the Nationalists for the 1922 election. He was re-elected in 1922 and 1925 largely under the banner of the rural faction, and joined the other "True Blues" in joining the nascent Country Party
in 1927. After the abolition of the multi-member system, Main contested and won the new electorate of Temora
.
The conservatives in New South Wales won a landslide victory in 1932 under Nationalist leader Bertram Stevens, and Main was one of several Country Party MLAs invited to hold portfolios in a new coalition ministry. He became Minister for Agriculture in 1932; he also held the position of Minister for Forests for a brief period. In his new role, he aggressively pursued rural interests, including the development of improved farming infrastructure, the protection of small farmers, and reviewing legislation relevant to farming interests. He held the position until 1938, when he retired from both the ministry and from parliament. He was succeeded in Temora by Doug Dickson
, a future deputy leader of the Country Party.
Main retired to his farm after leaving politics, but continued to be involved in the Country Party, and served on its executive council from 1956 to 1957. He died at Cootamundra
in 1961 and was buried at Cootamundra cemetery.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1920 until 1938, representing the electorates of Cootamundra
Electoral district of Cootamundra
Cootamundra was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1904 to 1941, in the Cootamundra area. It elected one member between 1904 and 1920 and between 1927 and 1941. In 1920, it absorbed Burrangong and Yass and elected three members under...
(1920–1927) and Temora
Electoral district of Temora
Temora was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1927 to 1981, including the town of Temora.-Members for Temora:...
(1927–1938). Initially elected as a Progressive
Progressive Party (1920)
The Progressive Party was a New South Wales political party that operated between 1920 and 1927, achieving representation in the Legislative Assembly due to proportional representation. The party attracted support from conservative voters in both rural and urban NSW. As a result, its policies were...
, he was a member of the party's rural "True Blues" faction that by 1927 had evolved into the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
.
Main was born on the west coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, some sources state at Ardrossan
Ardrossan
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...
, others at Saltcoats
Saltcoats
- References :*McSherry, R. & M. . Old Saltcoats, Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree. ISBN 1-872074-57-X.*Stansfield, G. . Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways, Stenlake Publishing, Catrine. ISBN 1-84033-077-5.-External links:***...
, and was educated at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and St Peter's College and Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He worked as an orchardist at Clare
Clare, South Australia
The town of Clare is located in South Australia in the Mid North region, 136 km north of Adelaide. It gives its name to the Clare Valley wine and tourist region.-History:One of the first settlers in the area was John Horrocks, in 1839...
for a time, before establishing a wheat and wool property at Bethungra
Bethungra, New South Wales
Bethungra is a locality in Junee Shire in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia situated on the Olympic Way about 13 kilometres northeast of Illabo and 24 kilometres southwest of Cootamundra....
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
around 1906. He was also a successful breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. Main enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in 1916, and saw active service in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, rising to the rank of sergeant. He returned to his Bethungra farm in 1919 with a highly regarded service record.
Main entered politics for the first time at the 1920 state election, when he was endorsed as a Progressive for multi-member Cootamundra
Electoral district of Cootamundra
Cootamundra was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1904 to 1941, in the Cootamundra area. It elected one member between 1904 and 1920 and between 1927 and 1941. In 1920, it absorbed Burrangong and Yass and elected three members under...
. He campaigned hard on rural issues, distanced himself from city interests and won in one of the largest upsets in New South Wales history when he defeated the incumbent Premier, Nationalist William Holman
William Holman
William Arthur Holman was an Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales, Australia, who split with the party on the conscription issue in 1916 during World War I, and immediately became Premier of a conservative Nationalist Party Government.-Early life:Holman was born in St Pancras, London,...
, for the third and final seat. As a Progressive MLA, he was one of the "True Blues" who broke with the party leadership in 1921 to oppose a coalition with the Nationalists for the 1922 election. He was re-elected in 1922 and 1925 largely under the banner of the rural faction, and joined the other "True Blues" in joining the nascent Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
in 1927. After the abolition of the multi-member system, Main contested and won the new electorate of Temora
Electoral district of Temora
Temora was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1927 to 1981, including the town of Temora.-Members for Temora:...
.
The conservatives in New South Wales won a landslide victory in 1932 under Nationalist leader Bertram Stevens, and Main was one of several Country Party MLAs invited to hold portfolios in a new coalition ministry. He became Minister for Agriculture in 1932; he also held the position of Minister for Forests for a brief period. In his new role, he aggressively pursued rural interests, including the development of improved farming infrastructure, the protection of small farmers, and reviewing legislation relevant to farming interests. He held the position until 1938, when he retired from both the ministry and from parliament. He was succeeded in Temora by Doug Dickson
Doug Dickson
Samuel Douglas Dickson was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1938 until his death in 1960. He was a member of the Country Party, serving as its Deputy Leader from 1953 to 1958.Dickson was born in Cootamundra, New South Wales...
, a future deputy leader of the Country Party.
Main retired to his farm after leaving politics, but continued to be involved in the Country Party, and served on its executive council from 1956 to 1957. He died at Cootamundra
Cootamundra, New South Wales
Cootamundra is a town and Local Government Area in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia and within the Riverina. At the 2006 census, Cootamundra had a population of 5,566. It is located on the Olympic Highway at the point where it crosses the Muttama Creek, between Junee and...
in 1961 and was buried at Cootamundra cemetery.
External links
- B2455, Main, AIF Service Record, Mapping our Anzacs, National Archives of AustraliaNational Archives of AustraliaThe National Archives of Australia is a body established by the Government of Australia for the purpose of preserving Commonwealth Government records. It is an Executive Agency of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and reports to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Joe Ludwig.The national...
.