Robert Hutchinson (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert David Hutchinson (3 March 1857—14 July 1918) was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 1900 until 1904 representing the seat of Geraldton
.
, a town north of Geraldton
, to Robert Hutchinson, the manager of the Waneranooka mine, and Mary Halloran. He worked with his father on the mine until 1878, when he left for Sydney
. He worked there with his brother as a builder, stonemason and contractor. On 14 December 1885 at St John's Church in the Sydney suburb of Glebe
, he married Mary Ann Gray, with whom he had one son and three daughters.
In 1890, he returned to Geraldton with his young family, and was elected to the Geraldton Town Council
in 1892. He was made a Justice of the Peace
in 1898, and became Mayor of Geraldton from 1898 until 1900.
At a by-election on 24 July 1900 following the resignation of George Simpson, Hutchinson was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Geraldton
. He was in opposition to the party led by Premier
Sir John Forrest
, and in the confusing parliamentary situation created by the 1901 election
, he was counted with the supporters of George Leake
, who became Premier twice, and his successor Walter James
. He retired at the 1904 election.
Following his time in Parliament, he worked in various temporary positions in the Department of Lands and Surveys and the Department of Public Works. He was elected to the Town Council for a year in 1908–1909.
Hutchinson died on 14 July 1918 in Maylands
, and was buried in the Anglican section of Karrakatta Cemetery
.
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....
from 1900 until 1904 representing the seat of Geraldton
Electoral district of Geraldton
Geraldton is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.Geraldton was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 state election...
.
Biography
Hutchinson was born in NorthamptonNorthampton, Western Australia
Northampton is a town north of Geraldton, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 813. It is historic, with an outstanding National Trust building. The town lies on the North West Coastal Highway. Formerly named Gwalla after the location's...
, a town north of Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
, to Robert Hutchinson, the manager of the Waneranooka mine, and Mary Halloran. He worked with his father on the mine until 1878, when he left for 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...
. He worked there with his brother as a builder, stonemason and contractor. On 14 December 1885 at St John's Church in the Sydney suburb of Glebe
Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Glebe is located 3 km south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region....
, he married Mary Ann Gray, with whom he had one son and three daughters.
In 1890, he returned to Geraldton with his young family, and was elected to the Geraldton Town Council
City of Geraldton
The City of Geraldton was a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, north of the state capital, Perth on the Indian Ocean...
in 1892. He was made a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1898, and became Mayor of Geraldton from 1898 until 1900.
At a by-election on 24 July 1900 following the resignation of George Simpson, Hutchinson was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
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....
for the seat of Geraldton
Electoral district of Geraldton
Geraldton is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.Geraldton was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 state election...
. He was in opposition to the party led by 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...
Sir John Forrest
John Forrest
Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament....
, and in the confusing parliamentary situation created by the 1901 election
Western Australian state election, 1901
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 24 April 1901 to elect 50 members to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly...
, he was counted with the supporters of George Leake
George Leake
George Leake CMG QC was Premier of Western Australia from 27 May 1901 to 21 November 1901, and again from 23 December 1901 until his death on 24 June 1902.-Early life:...
, who became Premier twice, and his successor Walter James
Walter James
Sir Walter Hartwell James KCMG KC was the fifth Premier of Western Australia and an ardent supporter of the federation movement....
. He retired at the 1904 election.
Following his time in Parliament, he worked in various temporary positions in the Department of Lands and Surveys and the Department of Public Works. He was elected to the Town Council for a year in 1908–1909.
Hutchinson died on 14 July 1918 in Maylands
Maylands, Western Australia
Maylands is a suburb located approximately northeast of Perth centred on the Midland railway line and located on the northern bank of the Swan River....
, and was buried in the Anglican section of Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
.