James Farnell
Encyclopedia
James Squire Farnell was an Australia
n politician and Premier of New South Wales. Farnell was a hard-working legislator who gave much study to the land question and also tried hard for some years to pass a bill for the regulation of contagious diseases.
, New South Wales
, son of Thomas Charles Farnell, a brewer, and Mary Ann Farnell, daughter of James Squire
, an English Romanichal who arrived on the First Fleet
and may have been Australia's first brewer. He was educated at Parramatta
. At a comparatively early age he began travelling with stock and learnt much about his own colony. The gold discoveries
in California
in 1848 led to his visiting America, and he also travelled in New Zealand
before finally returning to New South Wales.
for St Leonards
, but lost his seat at the next election. He was returned at Parramatta
in 1864 and held the seat for 10 years. He became Secretary for Lands in the first Parkes
ministry from May 1872 to February 1875, and for a short period was also Secretary for Mines. In 1874 he was defeated for Parramatta, but won St Leonards at a by-election, and held it to 1882.
From December 1876 until October 1877, Farnell was a chairman of committees, but towards the end of that year he organized a "Third Party", in November carried an amendment to the address in reply by two votes, and the Robertson ministry resigned.
Farnell succeeded in forming a ministry and on 18 December 1877 and took office as the first Australian-born Premier and Secretary for Lands. In October 1878 he brought in a land bill which was defeated on 5 December. Farnell resigned and was succeeded by Parkes. From 1882 to 1885, he represented New England
. When the Stuart
ministry was formed in January 1883, Farnell was again Secretary for Lands, and showed much patience and tact in his management of the land bill which became law in 1884. In the succeeding Dibbs
ministry formed in October 1885 he was Minister of Justice and representative of the ministry in the Legislative Council
, but this government lasted only a few weeks. In 1887, he was elected for Redfern
in the Assembly and represented that constituency until his death.
He died in Petersham
. His wife survived him with 11 children, one of whom, Frank Farnell, was a member of the Legislative Assembly for Central Cumberland
at the time of his father's death and later Ryde
.
Farnell was Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales
, installed on 1877-12-03.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician and Premier of New South Wales. Farnell was a hard-working legislator who gave much study to the land question and also tried hard for some years to pass a bill for the regulation of contagious diseases.
Early years
Farnell was born in St LeonardsSt Leonards, New South Wales
St Leonards is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. St Leonards is located 5 km north-west of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of Municipality of Lane Cove, North Sydney Council and the City of...
, 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...
, son of Thomas Charles Farnell, a brewer, and Mary Ann Farnell, daughter of James Squire
James Squire
James Squire , a convict transported to Australia, is credited with the first successful cultivation of hops in Australia at the turn of the 19th century, and is also considered to have founded Australia's first commercial brewery in 1798, though John Boston appears to have opened a brewery making...
, an English Romanichal who arrived on the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
and may have been Australia's first brewer. He was educated at Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
. At a comparatively early age he began travelling with stock and learnt much about his own colony. The gold discoveries
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1848 led to his visiting America, and he also travelled in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
before finally returning to New South Wales.
Political career
In 1860, Farnell won by-election to the Legislative AssemblyNew 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...
for St Leonards
Electoral district of St Leonards
St Leonards was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, partly replacing Sydney Hamlets, and named after the Sydney suburb of St Leonards. It extended from North Sydney to Broken Bay, including the Northern Beaches...
, but lost his seat at the next election. He was returned at Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
in 1864 and held the seat for 10 years. He became Secretary for Lands in the first Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
ministry from May 1872 to February 1875, and for a short period was also Secretary for Mines. In 1874 he was defeated for Parramatta, but won St Leonards at a by-election, and held it to 1882.
From December 1876 until October 1877, Farnell was a chairman of committees, but towards the end of that year he organized a "Third Party", in November carried an amendment to the address in reply by two votes, and the Robertson ministry resigned.
Premier
Farnell succeeded in forming a ministry and on 18 December 1877 and took office as the first Australian-born Premier and Secretary for Lands. In October 1878 he brought in a land bill which was defeated on 5 December. Farnell resigned and was succeeded by Parkes. From 1882 to 1885, he represented New England
Electoral district of New England
New England was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859 in the New England region, partly replacing New England and Macleay. It elected two members from 1880 to 1891 and three members from 1891 to 1894...
. When the Stuart
Alexander Stuart (Australian politician)
Sir Alexander Stuart KCMG was Premier of New South Wales from 5 January 1883 to 7 October 1885.-Early years:Stuart was born at Edinburgh, the son of Alexander Stuart and his wife Mary, née McKnight. Stuart was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and attended the University of Edinburgh, but did not...
ministry was formed in January 1883, Farnell was again Secretary for Lands, and showed much patience and tact in his management of the land bill which became law in 1884. In the succeeding Dibbs
George Dibbs
Sir George Richard Dibbs KCMG was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales on three occasions.-Early years:Dibbs was born in Sydney, son of Captain John Dibbs, who disappeared in the same year...
ministry formed in October 1885 he was Minister of Justice and representative of the ministry in the 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...
, but this government lasted only a few weeks. In 1887, he was elected for Redfern
Electoral district of Redfern
Redfern was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1880, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Redfern...
in the Assembly and represented that constituency until his death.
He died in Petersham
Petersham, New South Wales
Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...
. His wife survived him with 11 children, one of whom, Frank Farnell, was a member of the Legislative Assembly for Central Cumberland
Electoral district of Central Cumberland
Central Cumberland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1859 to 1894, in Cumberland County, which includes Sydney...
at the time of his father's death and later 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...
.
Honours
Farnell declined a knighthood.Farnell was Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales
United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is the main governing body of Freemasonry within the Australian state of New South Wales that also wholly encloses the Australian Capital Territory containing the national capital city, Canberra...
, installed on 1877-12-03.