Jim Robson (politician)
Encyclopedia
James Hutchins "Jim" Robson (23 September 1895 – 3 December 1975) was an Australia
n politician. He was the Labor
member for Hartley
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1956 to 1965.
Robson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne
in England
to George Robson, a drayman, and Jane Ann Mackay. He began working in the mines in 1909 and enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1914. In 1927 he and his family arrived in Australia
, settling in Lithgow
where Robson continued to work as a miner. He joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1927 and was president of the federal electorate council for Macquarie
, directing Ben Chifley
's local campaigns. He was also vice-president of the Ironworkers' Union, and was a member of Lithgow Council
from 1947 to 1956.
In 1956, Robson was selected as the Labor candidate for the state seat of Hartley
; sitting Independent Labor
MP Jim Chalmers
was contesting Nepean
. Robson won the seat by 132 votes against Independent Labor candidate William Black. In 1962 he held on only narrowly against Independent Harold Coates
; he retired in 1965, allowing Coates to win the seat. Robson died in 1975 in Lithgow.
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. He was the Labor
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...
member for Hartley
Electoral district of Hartley (New South Wales)
Hartley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859 in the Lithgow area and named after the town of Hartley, near Lithgow. It replaced part of Cook and Westmoreland. From 1891 to 1894, it elected two members...
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
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 1956 to 1965.
Robson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to George Robson, a drayman, and Jane Ann Mackay. He began working in the mines in 1909 and enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1914. In 1927 he and his family arrived in Australia
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...
, settling in Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
where Robson continued to work as a miner. He joined 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...
in 1927 and was president of the federal electorate council for Macquarie
Division of Macquarie
The Division of Macquarie is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for Lachlan Macquarie, who was Governor of New South Wales between 1810 and 1821...
, directing Ben Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
's local campaigns. He was also vice-president of the Ironworkers' Union, and was a member of Lithgow Council
City of Lithgow
Lithgow is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia that includes Lithgow and its surrounding area. It is on the Great Western Highway and the Main Western railway line.- Demographics :According to the , there:...
from 1947 to 1956.
In 1956, Robson was selected as the Labor candidate for the state seat of Hartley
Electoral district of Hartley (New South Wales)
Hartley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859 in the Lithgow area and named after the town of Hartley, near Lithgow. It replaced part of Cook and Westmoreland. From 1891 to 1894, it elected two members...
; sitting Independent Labor
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
MP Jim Chalmers
Jim Chalmers
Jim Chalmers was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1947 until 1956 . He was a member of the Australian Labor Party until he resigned from the party in 1952 and then sat as an independent Labor member.Chalmers was born in Lanarkshire,...
was contesting Nepean
Electoral district of Nepean (New South Wales)
Nepean was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, and named after the Nepean River. It was abolished in 1904 with the downsizing of the Assembly after Federation. Nepean was recreated in 1927 and abolished again in...
. Robson won the seat by 132 votes against Independent Labor candidate William Black. In 1962 he held on only narrowly against Independent Harold Coates
Harold Coates
Harold George Coates, OBE was an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly during the period 1965-1976.-Political career:...
; he retired in 1965, allowing Coates to win the seat. Robson died in 1975 in Lithgow.