Rupert Beale
Encyclopedia
Rupert Noel Beale was an Australian politician and an Independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for 16 months from May 1941 until his death.
, and was the son of a builder. He was educated to secondary level and was a qualified carpenter. Between 1910 and 1915, Beale was involved in a large number of enterprises including being an auctioneer, real estate agent and business broker. He was a dairy farmer in Aberdeen, New South Wales
, from 1916 until he was bankrupted in 1922. He was not discharged from his bankruptcy until 1940. In the 1920s and 1930s he was a hotel manager in Newcastle, Sydney and the South Coast of New South Wales. He also had a real estate agency in 1934. He lived permanently on the South Coast after 1935. Interested in local government, Beale was elected as an alderman at various times for Aberdeen Municipal Council, now part of Upper Hunter Shire, and the Municipality of Kiama
, Daniel Levy, for the Woollahra
seat at the 1935
state election. He eventually entered parliament as the Independent member for South Coast
after he won the seat at the 1941
state election. This was a surprise result, as South Coast was considered a safe conservative seat. Beale defeated the incumbent United Australia Party
(UAP) member Henry Bate
, who had been the member since 1927, by 39 votes (0.15%). Bate had been a supporter of Bertram Stevens during the UAP's leadership struggles and consequently received little support from the party after Stevens was deposed and replaced by Alexander Mair
.
Beale was a very active member in parliament, particularly supporting South Coast dairy farmers and the ship building industry. He also called for inquiries into police corruption related to illegal gambling and into wastage in the wheat industry.
In September 1942, Beale died suddenly of a heart attack at age 53 after being in parliament for only 16 months. The Premier, William McKell
, said that Beale's method of attacking political problems was unorthodox but that no one ever doubted his sincerity and he was untiring in his efforts for his constituents. Beale did not hold parliamentary or ministerial office. His son, Jack Beale
, was elected to replace him in the South Coast seat..
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...
for 16 months from May 1941 until his death.
Early life
Beale was born in Summer Hill, New South WalesSummer Hill, New South Wales
Summer Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Summer Hill is located 8 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield....
, and was the son of a builder. He was educated to secondary level and was a qualified carpenter. Between 1910 and 1915, Beale was involved in a large number of enterprises including being an auctioneer, real estate agent and business broker. He was a dairy farmer in Aberdeen, New South Wales
Aberdeen, New South Wales
Aberdeen is a small town in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, in Upper Hunter Shire. It is located about 12 kilometres north of Muswellbrook on the New England Highway. Aberdeen is named after Aberdeen, Scotland. At the 2006 census, Aberdeen had a population of...
, from 1916 until he was bankrupted in 1922. He was not discharged from his bankruptcy until 1940. In the 1920s and 1930s he was a hotel manager in Newcastle, Sydney and the South Coast of New South Wales. He also had a real estate agency in 1934. He lived permanently on the South Coast after 1935. Interested in local government, Beale was elected as an alderman at various times for Aberdeen Municipal Council, now part of Upper Hunter Shire, and the Municipality of Kiama
State Parliament
Beale had been unsuccessful as an Independent candidate against the SpeakerSpeaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly, New South Wales's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is Shelley Hancock, who was elected on 3 May 2011...
, Daniel Levy, for the Woollahra
Electoral district of Woollahra
Woollahra was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created with the abolition of multi-member constituencies in 1894 from part of Paddington, along with Waverley and Randwick. It was named after and including the Sydney suburb of...
seat at the 1935
New South Wales state election, 1935
The 1935 New South Wales state election was held on 11 May 1935. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 31st New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
state election. He eventually entered parliament as the Independent member for South Coast
Electoral district of South Coast
South Coast is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Shelley Hancock of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for South Coast:-Election results:...
after he won the seat at the 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 election. This was a surprise result, as South Coast was considered a safe conservative seat. Beale defeated the incumbent United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
(UAP) member Henry Bate
Henry Bate (Australian politician)
Henry John Bate was an Australian politician.Born at Tilba Tilba to farmer Richard Mossop Bate and Henrietta Higman, he was educated at Newington College , Sydney Technical and Hawkesbury Agricultural Colleges before becoming a farmer...
, who had been the member since 1927, by 39 votes (0.15%). Bate had been a supporter of Bertram Stevens during the UAP's leadership struggles and consequently received little support from the party after Stevens was deposed and replaced by Alexander Mair
Alexander Mair
Alexander Mair was an Australian politician and served as the Premier of New South Wales from 5 August 1939 to 16 May 1941. Born in Melbourne, working in various businesses, Mair moved to Albury, New South Wales and went on to be a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for fourteen...
.
Beale was a very active member in parliament, particularly supporting South Coast dairy farmers and the ship building industry. He also called for inquiries into police corruption related to illegal gambling and into wastage in the wheat industry.
In September 1942, Beale died suddenly of a heart attack at age 53 after being in parliament for only 16 months. The Premier, William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
, said that Beale's method of attacking political problems was unorthodox but that no one ever doubted his sincerity and he was untiring in his efforts for his constituents. Beale did not hold parliamentary or ministerial office. His son, Jack Beale
Jack Beale
Jack Gordon Beale AO was an Australian politician who championed the need for Australia to conserve and develop its water resources. He was also Australia's first environment minister...
, was elected to replace him in the South Coast seat..