Les Jordan
Encyclopedia
Leslie Charles Jordan was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1944 until his death in 1965 . He was initially elected as a member of the Country Party
but changed allegiance to the Liberal Party of Australia
in 1959.
Jordan was born in Sydney and was the son of a brick-maker. He was educated at state schools and initially worked as a dairy farm assistant before becoming a real estate agent. When he was in his 30s, Jordan studied law at the University of Sydney
and was called to the NSW bar in 1936. Jordan was an alderman on Ryde Municipal Council
between 1935 and 1937 and a councillor on Manning Shire Council
between 1951 and 1956. He was shire president during those years. Despite his urban background, he made unsuccessful attempts to win the seat of Raleigh
at the 1938
and 1941
state elections. He was eventually elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the "Independent Country" member for Oxley at the 1944
state election. He defeated the sitting Independent member, George Mitchell
who was on active overseas war service at the time of the election. He joined the Country party caucus after his election and retained the seat for the party at the next 5 elections. After the 1959
election he changed his party allegiance to the Liberal Party and retained the seat until he died in 1965. He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
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 1944 until his death in 1965 . He was initially elected as a member of 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...
but changed allegiance to the Liberal Party of Australia
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...
in 1959.
Jordan was born in Sydney and was the son of a brick-maker. He was educated at state schools and initially worked as a dairy farm assistant before becoming a real estate agent. When he was in his 30s, Jordan studied law 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...
and was called to the NSW bar in 1936. Jordan was an alderman on Ryde Municipal Council
City of Ryde
The City of Ryde is a Local Government Area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the Lower North Shore and Greater Western Sydney over West Ryde and Eastwood District....
between 1935 and 1937 and a councillor on Manning Shire Council
City of Greater Taree
The City of Greater Taree is a Local Government Area on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, centered on Taree. It is on the Manning River, the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line.- History :...
between 1951 and 1956. He was shire president during those years. Despite his urban background, he made unsuccessful attempts to win the seat of Raleigh
Electoral district of Raleigh
Raleigh was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing Macleay, and named after Raleigh County. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Oxley, along with...
at the 1938
New South Wales state election, 1938
The 1938 New South Wales state election was held on 26 March 1938. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 32nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
and 1941
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
state elections. He was eventually elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the "Independent Country" member for Oxley at the 1944
New South Wales state election, 1944
The 1944 New South Wales state election was held on 27 May 1944. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1940 redistribution...
state election. He defeated the sitting Independent member, George Mitchell
George Mitchell (Australian politician)
George Deane Mitchell was an Australian politician and an Independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for a single term between 1941 and 1944. .-Early life:...
who was on active overseas war service at the time of the election. He joined the Country party caucus after his election and retained the seat for the party at the next 5 elections. After the 1959
New South Wales state election, 1959
The 1959 New South Wales state election was held on 21 March 1959. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1957 redistribution...
election he changed his party allegiance to the Liberal Party and retained the seat until he died in 1965. He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.