Cecil Monro
Encyclopedia
Mr Cecil Owen James Monro (8 April 1883 – 1 May 1966) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1932 and 1941 and 1950-53. He was a member of the United Australia Party
and the Liberal Party of Australia
.
Monro was born in North Sydney, New South Wales
. He was the son of a timber merchant, and was educated at The Scots College
. He initially worked as a clerk but later owned a real estate agency, hotels and an auctioneering business. He was involved in community groups in the Cronulla
region including Rotary
and the Cronulla Surf Club.
After two unsuccessful attempts, Monro was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the United Australia Party member for Georges River
. He defeated the sitting Labor member Ted Kinsella at the 1932
landslide that swept away the government of Jack Lang
. Monro retained the seat until the 1941
election, when his defeat by Labor's Arthur Williams
contributed to the fall of the conservative coalition government of Bertram Stevens. Monro re-entered parliament as the Liberal member for the new seat of Sutherland
at the 1950
state election. In a result which had a major influence on the course of Australian history, he defeated the Labor candidate Gough Whitlam
. Whitlam subsequently turned his attention to Federal politics and became the Prime Minister of Australia
between 1972 and 1975. Monro was defeated at the next election in 1953
and retired from public life. He did not hold a ministerial, party or parliamentary position.
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...
between 1932 and 1941 and 1950-53. He was a member of the 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...
and the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
.
Monro was born in North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
. He was the son of a timber merchant, and was educated at The Scots College
The Scots College
For other schools with a similar name see Scots College.The Scots College is an independent Presbyterian day and boarding school for boys, located in Bellevue Hill, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. He initially worked as a clerk but later owned a real estate agency, hotels and an auctioneering business. He was involved in community groups in the Cronulla
Cronulla, New South Wales
Cronulla is a beachside suburb, in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cronulla is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Sutherland Shire....
region including Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
and the Cronulla Surf Club.
After two unsuccessful attempts, Monro was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the United Australia Party member for Georges River
Electoral district of Georges River
Georges River was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1930 to 2007. It was replaced by Oatley.-Members for Georges River:-Election results:...
. He defeated the sitting Labor member Ted Kinsella at the 1932
New South Wales state election, 1932
The 1932 New South Wales state election was held on 11 June 1932. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 30th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
landslide that swept away the government of Jack Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
. Monro retained the seat until 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....
election, when his defeat by Labor's Arthur Williams
Arthur Williams (Australian politician)
Arthur John Leonard Williams was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1940 until 1956. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
contributed to the fall of the conservative coalition government of Bertram Stevens. Monro re-entered parliament as the Liberal member for the new seat of Sutherland
Electoral district of Sutherland
Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999...
at the 1950
New South Wales state election, 1950
The 1950 New South Wales State state election was held on 17 June 1950. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1949 redistribution...
state election. In a result which had a major influence on the course of Australian history, he defeated the Labor candidate Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
. Whitlam subsequently turned his attention to Federal politics and became the Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
between 1972 and 1975. Monro was defeated at the next election in 1953
New South Wales state election, 1953
The 1953 New South Wales state election was held on 14 February 1953. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
and retired from public life. He did not hold a ministerial, party or parliamentary position.