Michael Durack
Encyclopedia
Michael Patrick Durack, (22 July 1865 – 3 September 1950) was a pastoralist, and Western Australia
n pioneer. He was the son of Patrick Durack
and Mary Costello, both Irish-Australians.
Durack was educated at St Patrick's College, Goulburn
along with his brother, John Wallace. In 1882-83, his family went on an expedition to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. On his 21st birthday, he made the first sale of Kimberley cattle to a Halls Creek butcher for £1200 in raw gold.
In 1894, a new shipping trade was established by Francis Connor and Denis Doherty from Wyndham to Perth. The Durack family became one of the main supplier in this market, and eventually merged with their shipping agents to form Connor, Doherty & Durack Ltd, which controlled nearly 600square miles of property on the Western Australia
-Northern Territory
border. His firm would be a major influence on the Kimberley pastrol industry for the next fifty years.
He negotiated a shipment of 3612 cattle to Natal
in 1902, which was long hailed a record overseas consignment of live cattle.
In 1917, he entered the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
as the Nationalist Party
member for the Kimberley. He became discontented with the Mitchell
government, and in 1920 joined the Country Party
, subsequently retiring from politics in 1924.
He died on 3 September 1950 and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery
.
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 pioneer. He was the son of Patrick Durack
Patrick Durack
Patrick Durack was a pastoral pioneer.His family were struggling tenant farmers from Magherareagh near Scarriff in County Clare, Ireland who moved from Ireland to New South Wales in 1853. Two months after arriving in New South Wales, his father, Michael was accidentally killed...
and Mary Costello, both Irish-Australians.
Durack was educated at St Patrick's College, Goulburn
St Patrick's College, Goulburn
St Patrick's College, Goulburn was an independent, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. It was one of the earliest schools established by the Christian Brothers in Australia. It is also a school which has a significant Rugby Union...
along with his brother, John Wallace. In 1882-83, his family went on an expedition to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. On his 21st birthday, he made the first sale of Kimberley cattle to a Halls Creek butcher for £1200 in raw gold.
In 1894, a new shipping trade was established by Francis Connor and Denis Doherty from Wyndham to Perth. The Durack family became one of the main supplier in this market, and eventually merged with their shipping agents to form Connor, Doherty & Durack Ltd, which controlled nearly 600square miles of property on the 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...
-Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
border. His firm would be a major influence on the Kimberley pastrol industry for the next fifty years.
He negotiated a shipment of 3612 cattle to Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
in 1902, which was long hailed a record overseas consignment of live cattle.
In 1917, he entered the Western Australian 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....
as the Nationalist Party
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 Kimberley. He became discontented with the Mitchell
James Mitchell (Australian politician)
Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....
government, and in 1920 joined the Country Party
Country Party
Country Party may refer to* Country Party of Australia, now called "National Party of Australia"* In Great Britain:** Country Party , opponents of the Court Party and the government, late 17th early 18th century** Ultra-Tories, active 1829–32...
, subsequently retiring from politics in 1924.
He died on 3 September 1950 and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
.