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Search the Jubilee History of Kew

Parliamentary Representatives.

Victoria became an independent colony on lst July, 1851. The act of separation provided for a Legislative Council of thirty members of these twenty were to be elected by those qualified to vote and ten nominated by the Governor.

Kew was situated in the constituency of South Bourke, and Mr. Henry Miller, afterwards of "Findon," Kew, was its first representative. Among «23» the nominee representatives was Mr. William Foster Stawell, a leading barrister, whose name is well known to the older residents of Kew. He was the first Attorney General of the Colony, and later became its Chief Justice, and more than once its Acting Governor. Early in its history he made Kew his home, and for some twenty-five years was one of its most respected inhabitants.

The scheme of government provided by the act of separation was soon found unworkable, and a new Constitution Act was passed and submitted to the Home Government, and after some delay received the approval of the British Parliament. Its proclamation in Victoria took place on 23rd November, 1855, a day for many ears numbered among the official holidays of the Colony.

The first elections under the new act took place earl in 1856 when South Bourke returned Charles Paslsey and Patrick O'Brien, the latter a resident of Hawthorn. But that Parliament did not last long, for in August, 1859, they were replaced by the ever­green Louis Lawrence Smith and Hibbert Newton. Mr. Newton became Postmaster-General, and when he returned to the electors for re-election was op­posed by a man who afterwards became a notable figure in Victorian politics-Graham Berry, who, however, was on that occasion unsuccessful. In Au­gust, 1861, a new parliament had to be elected, when we find Dr. L. L. Smith and Michael O'Grady the successful men, Mr. E. G. Fitzgibbon, the well known Town Clerk of Melbourne, being at the bot­tom of the poll. The next election was in October, 1864, when the same members were returned; but a ministerial crisis occurred, and at the election of December, 1865, Dr. L. L. Smith was replaced by George Paton Smith, for many years a resident of Kew. He was a pronounced advocate of protection, a principle which was beginning to gain ground owing to its advocacy by the "Age." Mr. G. P. Smith had been a draper in Bendigo, but in 1858 came to Mel­bourne and became a reporter on the "Argus." He next became editor of the "Leader," and studying for the «24» bar, was admitted to practice in September, 1861. His parliamentary career lasted for some twelve years, during which time he was Attorney-General for about twelve months. In January, 1868, the same members were returned. In February, 1871, neither of the retiring members stood for re-election, Mr. O'Grady retiring altogether, and Mr. G. P. Smith for a short time owing to private reasons. There were six as aspirants for the vacant seats, Messrs. J. B. Crews and James Ferguson being elected. Three years later there was no election, Mr. Ferguson retiring and Mr. G. P. Smith taking his place.

A new electoral act came into force before the general election of May, 1877. The population of Hawthorn and Kew had increased so much that with Boroondara shire they were combined in a new constituency named Boroondara. Liberalism and protection had become very powerful. Mr. G. P. Smith had modified his protectionist views and came out as the chosen of die conservatives. He was opposed by Professor Pearson, the chosen of the "Age." The fight was a severe one, but he won by 70 votes, according to the "Age," the sole disaster of a glorious victory. However, he did not represent Boroondara long, for in December, 1877, he passed away, and another of the great Smith family, Robert Murray Smith, a. former representative of St. Kilda, was elected after a contest with Mr. J. H. Knipe. He was re-elected unopposed in March, 1880, and again, owing to a dissolution in July, 1880. Two years later he was appointed Agent-General in London. In February, 1882, the first of a series of stiff fights took place, when Mr. W. F. Walker beat the local candidate, Mr. Charles F. Taylor, a popular solicitor and land speculator, by 22 votes. Twelve month; later the difference was increased to 75 votes, but in March, 1886, Captain Taylor got within 15 votes of Mr. Walker, the Kew vote virtually saving the seat for him.

Before the next election a new electoral act came into force. Hawthorn had grown sufficiently «25» to have a member of its own, and chose Captain Taylor. Kew, with Boroondara and part of Malvern, was formed into a new constituency called Eastern Suburbs, of which it was the first principal polling place. The first election under this act took place on 28th March, 1889, when the Premier of the Colony, Hon. D. Gillies, offered himself as a candidate. He was opposed by Mr. J . Maloney without success, the totals being:- Gillies, 1474; Maloney, 785. Kew being the division with the largest number of voters on the roll, was the principal polling place, and the final declaration of the poll took place here. At the next election, on 20th April, 1892, Mr. Gillies had a formidable opponent in Mr. Frank Madden, the local candidate, and in addition Mr. W. J. Lormer, the chosen of the protectionists. However, the result was:-Gillies, 1243; Madden, 1156; and Lormer, 523. Two years later Mr. Gillies accepted the office of Agent-General in London and Mr. Madden was returned unopposed on 26th January, 1894. Having had so short a trial of parliamentary life, it was only gracious to offer no opposition to him when the new parliament was elected on 20th September, 1894, but three years later there was determined opposition, no less than four other aspirants for the seat going to the poll, but his total more than equalled all his opponents put together, the figures being:-F. Madden, 1812; R. Beckett, 807; A. V. Kemp, 601; Roy Vernon, 187; and Randolph Bedford, 152; the two last-named losing their deposits. At the next general election, lst November, 1900, the fight was between Madden and Kemp, the former winning by nearly a hundred votes. Again, two years later, Mr. Madden (1652) more than equalled his two opponents, J. P. T. Caulfield (989) and W. J. Moulton (421).

Before the 19th Parliament expired another "Distribution of Seats Bill" had become law, and Kew was once more attached to Hawthorn. The electorate of Eastern Suburbs disappeared, and a new electorate of Boroondara was formed. Mr. Mad­den chose Boroondara, and was re-elected while the fight for Hawthorn on lst June, 1904, lay between the «26» sitting member (Hon. G. Swinburne) and Dr. J. M. Rose, the result being:-Swinburne, 2301; Rose, 1045. On the assembling of parliament Mr. Madden was elected Speaker, and still retains that office. At the next general election, 16th March, 1907, Mr. Swinburne again beat Dr. Rose, 2247 to 1039, but dissolution the next year necessitated an election on 29th December, 1908, when Mr. Swinburne had a remarkably close run, winning the seat by only six votes, the totals being 1425 to 1419 polled by Mr., F. W. Dawborn.

Owing to the varying number of members to each province and the changes in the number of provinces, to trace the members who have represented Kew in the Legislative Council would be a large task, so it must suffice to record that Kew at present forms portion of the East Yarra Province, the members for which are Hon. Jas. Balfour, a veteran po1itician and resident of the Borough, and Hon. Edward Miller, son of the late Hon. Henry Miller, of "Findon," and a former resident of Kew.

As Kew forms an important sub-division of the Commonwealth Electorate of Kooyong; in the House of Representatives, a brief summary of the contests for that seat may be interesting. Kooyong, it may be mentioned, comprises the parish of Boroondara, with parts of Nunawading and Malvern. The first was held on 29th March, 1901, when the candi­dates were Messrs. T. Fink, W. Knox, and W. F. R. Rogers, the result being:-Knox, 5271; Fink, 3043; and Rogers, 820. Before the next election came round the women's franchise had been passed, hence the figures are much larger. On 10th Decem­ber, 1903, Mr. Knox polled 12,045 votes to Mr. R. T. Barbour's 10,768. Three years later (12th Decem­ber, 1906) Mr Knox was again successful, polling 12,018 against Mr. R. T. Barbour, 7093. and Mr. E. F. G. Hodges, 1308. The contest on 13th April, 1910, again resulted in the return of Mr. Knox, though in such bad health that he was unable to take but little part in the election. His opponent on that occasion was Mr. A. G. Lumsden, who polled 11,733, to 15,089 by Mr. Knox. However,«27» three months later Mr. Know was compelled to relinquish his seat on account of ill health, and a by-election took place on 24th August, 1910, with the following result:- Hon. R. W. Best 11,926; Mr. A.G. Lumsden, 8,214; and Dr. E.G.L. Erson, 1,363; the latter losing his deposit. It is interest ring to note that for this election there were 2,381 males and 3,377 females, a total of 5,708 persons on roll for the Kew sub-division.

 

The Jubliee History of Kew - F.G.A. Barnard