Frank Downing
Encyclopedia
Francis George Downing was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1953 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP).
Downing was born in Tumut, New South Wales
and was the son of a council worker. Reg Downing a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1940 and 1970 and an Attorney-General of New South Wales was his brother and Thomas O'Mara a member of the Legislative Assembly in the nineteenth century was a cousin. He was educated at St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
and initially worked as a timber-worker before becoming an official in the Timber Workers Union
. After one unsuccessful attempt, Downing was elected to parliament as the Labor member for Ryde
at the 1953
state election. He defeated the incumbent Liberal
member Ken Anderson in an election in which Labor made significant gains in marginal seats. Downing retained the seat at the next 4 elections until it was abolished at the 1968
election. He was the Labor candidate for the new seat of Fuller
at that election but was defeated by the Liberal candidate and future party leader, Peter Coleman
. Downing then retired from public life. He was the chairman of caucus in 1959 but did not hold any other party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
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...
from 1953 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian 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...
(ALP).
Downing was born in Tumut, New South Wales
Tumut, New South Wales
Tumut is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the banks of the Tumut River. Tumut is at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains and is referred to as the gateway to the Snowy Mountains Scheme...
and was the son of a council worker. Reg Downing a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
between 1940 and 1970 and an Attorney-General of New South Wales was his brother and Thomas O'Mara a member of the Legislative Assembly in the nineteenth century was a cousin. He was educated at St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and initially worked as a timber-worker before becoming an official in the Timber Workers Union
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union is Australia's main trade union in construction, forestry and furnishing products, mining and energy production....
. After one unsuccessful attempt, Downing was elected to parliament as the Labor member for Ryde
Electoral district of Ryde
Ryde is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It includes the suburbs and localities of Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, Macquarie Park, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Ryde, North Ryde, West Ryde; and part of Eastwood.It is...
at the 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...
state election. He defeated the incumbent Liberal
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...
member Ken Anderson in an election in which Labor made significant gains in marginal seats. Downing retained the seat at the next 4 elections until it was abolished at the 1968
New South Wales state election, 1968
The 1968 New South Wales state election was held on 24 February 1968. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1966 redistribution...
election. He was the Labor candidate for the new seat of Fuller
Electoral district of Fuller
Fuller was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1968 in the Ryde area and named after George Fuller, Premier of New South Wales, 1922-1925. It was abolished in 1981 and largely replaced by Gladesville.-Members for Fuller:...
at that election but was defeated by the Liberal candidate and future party leader, Peter Coleman
Peter Coleman
William Peter Coleman is an Australian writer/journalist, former politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. Following Willis' resignation as leader he was made Leader of the New South Wales Opposition...
. Downing then retired from public life. He was the chairman of caucus in 1959 but did not hold any other party, parliamentary or ministerial office.