Herbert Hyland
Encyclopedia
Sir Herbert John Thornhill Hyland (1884–1970), storekeeper, investor, and politician, was born on 15 March 1884 at Prahran, Melbourne
, second son of George Hyland, a Victorian-born painter, and his wife Mary, née Thornhill, from Ireland
. Herbert attended Caulfield state school until the early deaths of his parents forced him to leave at the age of 12 and take a job in a grocery store in Glenhuntly.
Hyland eventually moved to South Gippsland
, establishing his own general store and mixed grocery business. On 8 May 1912 at her parents' home at Galaquil he married with Methodist forms 18-year-old Amelia Mary Barratt (died 1968); their son and daughter were to predecease him, to his deep distress.
As Hyland's business flourished, he diversified into dairy farming and became a major landowner in the region. He was ruled unfit for war service, but proved a staunch advocate of soldier settlers. Elected in 1923 to the Woorayl
shire council (president 1928-1929), he took an increasingly active role in community affairs, joined the Country party
and served as president of its Central Gippsland district council. His commercial ventures proved so profitable in the late 1920s he was able to retire early and devote himself to community causes.
In 1927 Hyland unsuccessfully contested the newly created seat of Wonthaggi
in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
. In 1929, with the aid of preferences from the Australian Labor Party
, Hyland defeated the sitting Nationalist
member for the seat of Gippsland South
and entered state parliament.
Appointed minister without portfolio in the minority Country Party government of Sir Albert Dunstan
in June 1936, Hyland was promoted to various ministries, both in minority Country Party and in coalition cabinets, until the election of the Cain
government in 1952 brought a temporary halt to the instability of Victorian politics.
Hyland's portfolios included Transport (1938–43), Chief Secretary (1943–45), State Development (1947–48 and 1950–52), Labour (1947–48), Decentralisation (1948) and Transport and Prices (1950–52).
Knighted in 1952, Hyland was elected leader of the parliamentary Country Party in 1955. In the early years of Sir Henry Bolte
's Liberal government, Hyland took advantage of the premier's inexperience to extract concessions, especially relating to freight charges. Hyland often railed against Bolte for his alleged Melbourne
bias. Often Hyland was given to extravagant and vituperative language. In a debate in parliament in 1958 he called Bolte a 'mongrel' and referred to another minister as 'a stupid looking goof'. He was suspended from parliament in 1960 for describing the speaker as being 'as silly as a billy goat'. Despite these outbursts, Hyland was generally liked by his colleagues.
Hyland was unexpectantly replaced as parliamentary leader of the country party by George Moss
in 1964.
Sir Herbert Hyland died on 18 March 1970 at Prahran, Victoria
; he was accorded a state funeral and was cremated with Anglican rites.
Numerous roadways are named after Hyland, including Hyland Street, South Yarra
and the Hyland Highway.
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...
, second son of George Hyland, a Victorian-born painter, and his wife Mary, née Thornhill, from 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...
. Herbert attended Caulfield state school until the early deaths of his parents forced him to leave at the age of 12 and take a job in a grocery store in Glenhuntly.
Hyland eventually moved to South Gippsland
South Gippsland
South Gippsland, a region of Gippsland in Victoria, Australia, is a well-watered region consisting of low, rolling hills descending to the coast in the south and the Latrobe Valley in the north. Low granite hills continue into Wilsons Promontory, the southernmost point of Victoria and mainland...
, establishing his own general store and mixed grocery business. On 8 May 1912 at her parents' home at Galaquil he married with Methodist forms 18-year-old Amelia Mary Barratt (died 1968); their son and daughter were to predecease him, to his deep distress.
As Hyland's business flourished, he diversified into dairy farming and became a major landowner in the region. He was ruled unfit for war service, but proved a staunch advocate of soldier settlers. Elected in 1923 to the Woorayl
Shire of Woorayl
The Shire of Woorayl was a Local Government Area located about southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1888 until 1994.-History:...
shire council (president 1928-1929), he took an increasingly active role in community affairs, joined the Country party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
and served as president of its Central Gippsland district council. His commercial ventures proved so profitable in the late 1920s he was able to retire early and devote himself to community causes.
In 1927 Hyland unsuccessfully contested the newly created seat of Wonthaggi
Electoral district of Wonthaggi
The Electoral district of Wonthaggi was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria.-Members for Wonthaggi:...
in 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:...
. In 1929, with the aid of preferences from 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...
, Hyland defeated the sitting Nationalist
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
member for the seat of Gippsland South
Electoral district of Gippsland South
The Electoral district of Gippsland South is a Lower House electoral district of the Victorian Parliament. It is located within the Eastern Victoria Region of the Legislative Council ....
and entered state parliament.
Appointed minister without portfolio in the minority Country Party government of Sir Albert Dunstan
Albert Dunstan
Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan, KCMG was an Australian politician. A member of the Country Party , Dunstan was the 33rd Premier of Victoria. His term as Premier was the second-longest in the state's history, behind Sir Henry Bolte...
in June 1936, Hyland was promoted to various ministries, both in minority Country Party and in coalition cabinets, until the election of the Cain
John Cain (senior)
John Cain was an Australian politician, who became the 34th premier of Victoria, and was the first Australian Labor Party leader to win a majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was the only premier of Victoria whose son also served as premier.-Early life:Cain was born, one of 18...
government in 1952 brought a temporary halt to the instability of Victorian politics.
Hyland's portfolios included Transport (1938–43), Chief Secretary (1943–45), State Development (1947–48 and 1950–52), Labour (1947–48), Decentralisation (1948) and Transport and Prices (1950–52).
Knighted in 1952, Hyland was elected leader of the parliamentary Country Party in 1955. In the early years of Sir Henry Bolte
Henry Bolte
Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG was an Australian politician. He was the 38th and longest serving Premier of Victoria.- Early years :...
's Liberal government, Hyland took advantage of the premier's inexperience to extract concessions, especially relating to freight charges. Hyland often railed against Bolte for his alleged 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...
bias. Often Hyland was given to extravagant and vituperative language. In a debate in parliament in 1958 he called Bolte a 'mongrel' and referred to another minister as 'a stupid looking goof'. He was suspended from parliament in 1960 for describing the speaker as being 'as silly as a billy goat'. Despite these outbursts, Hyland was generally liked by his colleagues.
Hyland was unexpectantly replaced as parliamentary leader of the country party by George Moss
George Moss
George Moss is a Christian, American rapper, artist, producer, actor, and radio host at 88.3 and 89.9 WAYfm. After the release of his debut solo album, "All or Nothing" in 2008 and a string of radio singles such as "Whoa!", "Get Right", "Transparent", and "Go Hard or Go Home", he quickly rose to...
in 1964.
Sir Herbert Hyland died on 18 March 1970 at Prahran, Victoria
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...
; he was accorded a state funeral and was cremated with Anglican rites.
Numerous roadways are named after Hyland, including Hyland Street, South Yarra
South Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Stonnington and Melbourne...
and the Hyland Highway.