William Burges (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
William Burges was an early settler in Western Australia
who became a pastoralist and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
.
Born in Fethard
, Tipperary
, Ireland
in 1806 or 1808, William Burges was a brother of Lockier Clere Burges
and Samuel Burges, and uncle to Thomas and Richard Burges. In 1830, Burges and his brothers emigrated to Western Australia on board the Warrior. Until 1837 they farmed together in the Upper Swan
district. In 1837 the brothers obtained land at York
. Their homestead, which they named Tipperary, is still held by their descendants.
Burges travelled to Ireland in 1841, and returned to York in 1844. In 1846 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
. Appointed secretary of the York Agricultural Society in 1847, he was closely involved in that body's ultimately successful petition for Western Australia to become a penal colony
. In 1850, he moved to the Champion Bay district, establishing the Bowes homestead. From 1851 to 1860 he was resident magistrate
for his district, and in 1853 he was sub-collector of customs and visiting magistrate for the convict depot at Port Gregory
. He returned to Ireland in 1860, but revisited Western Australia in 1868 and 1875. In November 1875, he was nominated to the Legislative Council. He held the seat until his resignation in July 1876. He returned to Ireland shortly afterwards, dying at Fethard
on 16 October. He was unmarried.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
who became a pastoralist and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
.
Born in Fethard
Fethard
-Constituencies:*Fethard *Fethard...
, Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1806 or 1808, William Burges was a brother of Lockier Clere Burges
Lockier Burges (Australian politician)
Lockier Clere Burges was an early settler in colonial Western Australia who became a leading pastoralist in the colony, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council....
and Samuel Burges, and uncle to Thomas and Richard Burges. In 1830, Burges and his brothers emigrated to Western Australia on board the Warrior. Until 1837 they farmed together in the Upper Swan
Upper Swan, Western Australia
Upper Swan is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of Swan local government area.It contains Upper Swan Primary School....
district. In 1837 the brothers obtained land at York
York, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
. Their homestead, which they named Tipperary, is still held by their descendants.
Burges travelled to Ireland in 1841, and returned to York in 1844. In 1846 he was appointed 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...
. Appointed secretary of the York Agricultural Society in 1847, he was closely involved in that body's ultimately successful petition for Western Australia to become a penal colony
Penal colony
A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general populace by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory...
. In 1850, he moved to the Champion Bay district, establishing the Bowes homestead. From 1851 to 1860 he was resident magistrate
Resident Magistrate
A resident magistrate is a title for magistrates used in certain parts of the world, that were, or are, governed by the British. Sometimes abbreviated as RM, it refers to suitably qualified personnel - notably well versed in the law - brought into an area from outside as the local magistrate,...
for his district, and in 1853 he was sub-collector of customs and visiting magistrate for the convict depot at Port Gregory
Port Gregory, Western Australia
Gregory is a small town and fishing port in the Mid West region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Gregory had a population of 46.Port Gregory, located close to the mouth of the Hutt River, was established in 1849 and named after brothers Augustus and Frank Gregory, two of Western...
. He returned to Ireland in 1860, but revisited Western Australia in 1868 and 1875. In November 1875, he was nominated to the Legislative Council. He held the seat until his resignation in July 1876. He returned to Ireland shortly afterwards, dying at Fethard
Fethard
-Constituencies:*Fethard *Fethard...
on 16 October. He was unmarried.