Alfred Downward
Encyclopedia
Alfred Downward was an Australian politician.
Born in Melbourne
to Edward and Elizabeth Downward, he was educated at Prahran
and Mornington
before working on his father's Balnarring
sheep farm. From 1874 he had his own property and was highly involved in settlement on the Mornington Peninsula
. He was a member of Flinders and Kangerong Shire Council for twenty-five years, serving as president from 1890 to 1892; he was also a Mornington Shire Councillor
and president. In 1879 he married Josephine Kerr at Hawthorn
, with whom he had three children. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Mornington
in 1894, serving until 1929; he was Minister for Water Supply and Agriculture (1908–09), Minister for Mines, Forests and Public Health (1917–18), and Minister for Immigration (1924–27). Downward died in Mornington in 1930.
Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Edward and Elizabeth Downward, he was educated at Prahran
Prahran, Victoria
Prahran , also known colloquially as "Pran", is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Prahran had a population of 10,651. It is a part of Melbourne with...
and Mornington
Mornington, Victoria
Mornington is a sea side town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, located 57 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula....
before working on his father's Balnarring
Balnarring, Victoria
Balnarring is a town in Victoria, Australia, located in the southeastern Mornington Peninsula about halfway between Hastings and Flinders. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.-History:...
sheep farm. From 1874 he had his own property and was highly involved in settlement on the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
. He was a member of Flinders and Kangerong Shire Council for twenty-five years, serving as president from 1890 to 1892; he was also a Mornington Shire Councillor
Shire of Mornington
The Shire of Mornington was a Local Government Area located on the western Mornington Peninsula about south of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia...
and president. In 1879 he married Josephine Kerr at Hawthorn
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
, with whom he had three children. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
for Mornington
Electoral district of Mornington
The Electoral district of Mornington is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Members for Mornington:-Election results:-See also:* Parliaments of the Australian states and territories...
in 1894, serving until 1929; he was Minister for Water Supply and Agriculture (1908–09), Minister for Mines, Forests and Public Health (1917–18), and Minister for Immigration (1924–27). Downward died in Mornington in 1930.