George Throssell
Encyclopedia
George Lionel Throssell, CMG
(23 May 1840 – 30 August 1910) was the second Premier of Western Australia
. He served for just three months, from 15 February 1901 until 27 May 1901 during a period of great instability in Western Australia
n politics.
George Throssell was born at Fermoy
, County Cork
in Ireland
on 23 May 1840. The son of a pensioner guard, he came to Western Australia on board the Scindian
in 1850 with his parents, and was educated at the Perth Public School. He began his own business as a produce merchant in the town of Northam
in 1861 and served as the Northam postmaster
from 1864 to 1874. Throssell became owner of a flour mill, farms and a chain of shops, and was active in the Northam community. He was first elected to the Northam Municipal Council in 1880, of which he was Chairman until 1883 and again from 1885 to 1887. He subsequently served as Mayor of Northam for broken periods until 1894. Throssell was popularly known as "the lion of Northam", and was Northam's first citizen in 1890 when was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly
seat of Northam
.
In 1897 Throssell joined Sir John Forrest
's government as Commissioner of Crown Lands, a key responsibility in a rapidly developing colony. When Forrest resigned as premier to join the federal parliament, Throssell took over as premier and treasurer on 15 February 1901. However, in the election of the following April, the "ministerialists" or former Forrest supporters failed to attain a majority of seats. On 27 May Throssell resigned as premier and as the leader of his group, but continued as MLA for Northam. He did not contest the 1904 election for health reasons, but returned to parliament in 1907 after winning a by-election for the Legislative Council
's East Province, the electoral region
that included Northam. He served until his death on 30 August 1910.
George Throssell married Annie Morrell in 1861, and was the father of at least twelve children, one of whom was Hugo Throssell
. George Throssell was created a CMG
in 1901.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(23 May 1840 – 30 August 1910) was the second Premier of Western Australia
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
. He served for just three months, from 15 February 1901 until 27 May 1901 during a period of great instability in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n politics.
George Throssell was born at Fermoy
Fermoy
Fermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 23 May 1840. The son of a pensioner guard, he came to Western Australia on board the Scindian
Scindian
Scindian is widely considered the first convict ship to transport convicts to Western Australia.A barque of 650 tons, Scindian was constructed at Sunderland, England in 1844 and named after the Indian Scindia dynasty...
in 1850 with his parents, and was educated at the Perth Public School. He began his own business as a produce merchant in the town of Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
in 1861 and served as the Northam postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
from 1864 to 1874. Throssell became owner of a flour mill, farms and a chain of shops, and was active in the Northam community. He was first elected to the Northam Municipal Council in 1880, of which he was Chairman until 1883 and again from 1885 to 1887. He subsequently served as Mayor of Northam for broken periods until 1894. Throssell was popularly known as "the lion of Northam", and was Northam's first citizen in 1890 when was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
seat of Northam
Electoral district of Northam
Northam was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1974.The district was based on the town of Northam lying to the east of Perth. It was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 state election. The district was abolished...
.
In 1897 Throssell joined Sir John Forrest
John Forrest
Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament....
's government as Commissioner of Crown Lands, a key responsibility in a rapidly developing colony. When Forrest resigned as premier to join the federal parliament, Throssell took over as premier and treasurer on 15 February 1901. However, in the election of the following April, the "ministerialists" or former Forrest supporters failed to attain a majority of seats. On 27 May Throssell resigned as premier and as the leader of his group, but continued as MLA for Northam. He did not contest the 1904 election for health reasons, but returned to parliament in 1907 after winning a by-election for the Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
's East Province, the electoral region
Electoral regions of Western Australia
The Western Australian Legislative Council is elected from six multi-member electoral regions, which are in turn composed of electoral districts which are used to elect the Legislative Assembly. The current number of electoral regions was established in 1989 under the Acts Amendment Act 1987,...
that included Northam. He served until his death on 30 August 1910.
George Throssell married Annie Morrell in 1861, and was the father of at least twelve children, one of whom was Hugo Throssell
Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell
Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
. George Throssell was created a CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1901.