John Holt (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Walter John Holt QC
(born 7 May 1929) is a former Australia
n politician and judge. He was a Liberal
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1972 to 1984, and was Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House from 1976 to 1977.
Holt was born in Sydney
, the son of Henry Thomas Eulert Holt QC
, a judge of the District Court of New South Wales
, and Gladys Amelia Withycombe. He was educated at Barker College in Hornsby
from 1938 to 1944 and at the University of Sydney
, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Law in 1952. In 1948 he joined the Liberal Party
. An RAAF
reserve, he was a pilot officer with the Sydney University Squadron in 1952, and was called to the bar in 1954. In 1959, he was elected to Woollahra Council; he was deputy mayor in 1963 and served until 1965. He married Eleanor Fel in 1960, with whom he had three children.
He was president of the Liberal Party's Edgecliff
branch in 1962, and directed the campaigns for the state seat of Bligh
in 1965, 1968 and 1971, and for the federal seat of St George
in 1972. In 1967 he became vice-president of the Civic Reform Association. In 1972 Holt was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
. In 1976, the year he and his wife Eleanor divorced, he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, holding that position until 1977. In 1980 he married Judith Little. He was appointed an Officer of the French
National Order of Merit in 1982 and also became a QC
in that year. Holt left the Council in 1984.
In 1987, Holt's second wife Judith died. He married Heather Lise Barritt in 1990. In 1993 he was appointed a Judge of the District Court, holding that position until 2002.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 7 May 1929) is a former Australia
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 and judge. He was a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1972 to 1984, and was Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House from 1976 to 1977.
Holt was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, the son of Henry Thomas Eulert Holt QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, a judge of the District Court of New South Wales
District Court of New South Wales
The District Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to hear most indictable offences . It hears appeals from the Local Court and civil claims up to A$750 000. In some circumstances the amount may be higher, e.g. with the consent of the parties or in motor accident claims etc...
, and Gladys Amelia Withycombe. He was educated at Barker College in Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
from 1938 to 1944 and at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Law in 1952. In 1948 he joined the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
. An RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
reserve, he was a pilot officer with the Sydney University Squadron in 1952, and was called to the bar in 1954. In 1959, he was elected to Woollahra Council; he was deputy mayor in 1963 and served until 1965. He married Eleanor Fel in 1960, with whom he had three children.
He was president of the Liberal Party's Edgecliff
Edgecliff, New South Wales
Edgecliff is a small suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Edgecliff is located 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra. The postcode is 2027.Edgecliff is surrounded by...
branch in 1962, and directed the campaigns for the state seat of Bligh
Electoral district of Bligh
Bligh was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1962, partly replacing Paddington-Waverley and was an urban electorate, covering 13.03 km² and taking in the suburbs of Potts Point, Darling Point, Woolloomooloo, Elizabeth...
in 1965, 1968 and 1971, and for the federal seat of St George
Division of St George
The Division of St George was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, and covered the suburbs of Hurstville, Rockdale and Arncliffe....
in 1972. In 1967 he became vice-president of the Civic Reform Association. In 1972 Holt was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. In 1976, the year he and his wife Eleanor divorced, he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, holding that position until 1977. In 1980 he married Judith Little. He was appointed an Officer of the French
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...
National Order of Merit in 1982 and also became a QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in that year. Holt left the Council in 1984.
In 1987, Holt's second wife Judith died. He married Heather Lise Barritt in 1990. In 1993 he was appointed a Judge of the District Court, holding that position until 2002.