Edward William O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Edward William O'Sullivan (17 March 1846 - 25 April 1910) was an Australian journalist and politician.
As a politician, O'Sullivan had strong Labour sympathies before the Labor Party
had developed in New South Wales
, and worked untiringly for old-age pensions until they became law in 1900. He was much criticized for his supposed extravagance as Minister for Public Works; at the time it seemed with reason, as the state was suffering from drought for part of the period. Possibly, however, he was wise in realizing the necessity of keeping people at work in times of depression. He was certainly right in his efforts to provide Sydney with a proper supply of water, and his efforts to relieve unemployment by developing the tramway and railway systems, showed him as a man of great foresight and courage.
Tasmania
. His father deserted the family when he was a child and he was mainly educated by his mother. He began work at an early age as a printer's devil
on the Hobart Mercury. Later he became a reporter; in 1869 he went to Sydney
, but soon returned to Hobart and started a paper, the Tribune. This had some success but O'Sullivan sold it in 1873, went to Melbourne
, and did journalistic work. He was editor of the St Arnaud Mercury for about three years. In 1878, he moved to Melbourne, married Agnes Ann Firman and started working a the Argus
. In 1882, he went to Sydney and for about a year was overseer in the Daily Telegraph office.
O'Sullivan took a prominent part in union circles and became president of the New South Wales Typographical Association and became President of the Trades and Labor Council
for six months from March 1883. In 1884, he founded a working man's party the Democratic Alliance and its newspaper the Democrat, but both failed.
. but was defeated, and in 1885 was defeated for South Sydney
. He was, however, returned for Queanbeyan
a few days later, with the assistance of the Queanbeyan Age, edited by his friend, John Gale. He held the seat for about 18 years.
In September 1899, O'Sullivan became Minister for Public Works in the Lyne ministry, and held the same position when John See
became Premier until the ministry was defeated in June 1904. He was a most vigorous minister and was responsible for a great development of the tramway system, for the building of many new railways, and for many other public works in connexion with water-supply, roads, rivers, harbours and buildings, including the new Sydney railway station
. According to the Bulletin
, his sketch for it has "all the salient features of the Colosseum, St Paul's, the Kremlin and a Yankee skyscraper".
O'Sullivan held office for a few weeks in the Waddell
ministry in 1904 as Secretary for Lands, but possibly from failing health was less prominent in politics win his later years. He, however, did good work as an alderman of the City of Sydney
, and representing Belmore
for six years was a useful member of the assembly.
O'Sullivan died at Mosman
of blood poisoning after a protracted illness. He was married, and left a widow, two sons and three daughters.
). He published during the 1890s Esperanza: a Tale of Three Colonies, and in 1906, Under the Southern Cross: Australian Sketches, Stories and Speeches.
As a politician, O'Sullivan had strong Labour sympathies before the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
had developed in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and worked untiringly for old-age pensions until they became law in 1900. He was much criticized for his supposed extravagance as Minister for Public Works; at the time it seemed with reason, as the state was suffering from drought for part of the period. Possibly, however, he was wise in realizing the necessity of keeping people at work in times of depression. He was certainly right in his efforts to provide Sydney with a proper supply of water, and his efforts to relieve unemployment by developing the tramway and railway systems, showed him as a man of great foresight and courage.
Early life and journalism
O'Sullivan was born in LauncestonLaunceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. His father deserted the family when he was a child and he was mainly educated by his mother. He began work at an early age as a printer's devil
Printer's devil
A printer's devil was an apprentice in a printing establishment who performed a number of tasks, such as mixing tubs of ink and fetching type...
on the Hobart Mercury. Later he became a reporter; in 1869 he went to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, but soon returned to Hobart and started a paper, the Tribune. This had some success but O'Sullivan sold it in 1873, went to 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...
, and did journalistic work. He was editor of the St Arnaud Mercury for about three years. In 1878, he moved to Melbourne, married Agnes Ann Firman and started working a the Argus
The Argus (Australia)
The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. Widely known as a conservative newspaper for most of its history, it adopted a left leaning approach from 1949...
. In 1882, he went to Sydney and for about a year was overseer in the Daily Telegraph office.
O'Sullivan took a prominent part in union circles and became president of the New South Wales Typographical Association and became President of the Trades and Labor Council
Labor Council of New South Wales
The Labor Council of New South Wales is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW...
for six months from March 1883. In 1884, he founded a working man's party the Democratic Alliance and its newspaper the Democrat, but both failed.
Parliamentary career
In 1882, O'Sullivan was a candidate for the legislative assembly at West SydneyElectoral district of West Sydney
West Sydney was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales created in 1859 from part of the electoral district of Sydney, covering the western part of the current Sydney central business district, Ultimo and Pyrmont, bordered by George Street,...
. but was defeated, and in 1885 was defeated for South Sydney
Electoral district of South Sydney
South Sydney was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1880 to 1894, covering the southern part of the current Sydney central business district, Haymarket, Surry Hills, Moore Park and Chippendale, bordered by George Street, Broadway,...
. He was, however, returned for Queanbeyan
Electoral district of Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1859 to 1913, in the Queanbeyan area. It replaced parts of the electoral district of United Counties of Murray and St Vincent and the electoral district of Southern Boroughs...
a few days later, with the assistance of the Queanbeyan Age, edited by his friend, John Gale. He held the seat for about 18 years.
In September 1899, O'Sullivan became Minister for Public Works in the Lyne ministry, and held the same position when John See
John See
Sir John See, KCMG was a member of the New South Wales Legislature from 26 November 1880 to 15 June 1901, and was then Premier of New South Wales from 1901 to 1904....
became Premier until the ministry was defeated in June 1904. He was a most vigorous minister and was responsible for a great development of the tramway system, for the building of many new railways, and for many other public works in connexion with water-supply, roads, rivers, harbours and buildings, including the new Sydney railway station
Central railway station, Sydney
Central Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
. According to the Bulletin
The Bulletin
The Bulletin was an Australian weekly magazine that was published in Sydney from 1880 until January 2008. It was influential in Australian culture and politics from about 1890 until World War I, the period when it was identified with the "Bulletin school" of Australian literature. Its influence...
, his sketch for it has "all the salient features of the Colosseum, St Paul's, the Kremlin and a Yankee skyscraper".
O'Sullivan held office for a few weeks in the Waddell
Thomas Waddell
Thomas Waddell , an Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1887 to 1917, was briefly the Premier of New South Wales during 1904, and was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1917 to 1934.-Early life:He was born in County Monaghan,...
ministry in 1904 as Secretary for Lands, but possibly from failing health was less prominent in politics win his later years. He, however, did good work as an alderman of the City of Sydney
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
, and representing Belmore
Electoral district of Belmore
Belmore was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1904 in inner Sydney from part of the Sydney-Belmore and named after Governor Belmore. It was originally in northern Surry Hills bounded by Elizabeth Street, Liverpool Street,...
for six years was a useful member of the assembly.
O'Sullivan died at Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
of blood poisoning after a protracted illness. He was married, and left a widow, two sons and three daughters.
Literary works
O'Sullivan had three melodramas produced: Cooee Eureka Stockade and Keane, of Kalgoorlie (filmed in 1911Keane of Kalgoorlie
Keane of Kalgoorlie is a 1911 Australian silent film set in the racing and gambling circles of Sydney, based on a popular play by Edward William O'Sullivan, made by the husband and wife team of John and Agnes Gavin.-Synopsis:...
). He published during the 1890s Esperanza: a Tale of Three Colonies, and in 1906, Under the Southern Cross: Australian Sketches, Stories and Speeches.