Philip Fysh
Encyclopedia
Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG (1 March 183520 December 1919) was an Australian politician, Premier of Tasmania and a member of the first federal ministry
.
Fysh was born in Highbury
, London, the son of John Fysh and his wife Charlotte. He was educated at the Denmark Hill
school in Islington
. At 13 years of age, Fysh commenced work in a London stockbroker's office, then he obtained a position in the office of a shipping firm, L. Stevenson & Sons, with Australian connexions. Fysh migrated to Tasmania
in 1859, becoming a leading merchant (establishing P. O. Fysh and Company), hop
-grower and orchardist.
A Protectionist
, Fysh was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
from 1866–69, 1870–73, 1884–90, and of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
1873–78 (where he was treasurer in the Alfred Kennerley
ministry until March 1875) and 1894–99. Fysh became Premier and Chief Secretary of Tasmania in 1877, serving initially until 1878 and returning to the positions in 1887, serving to 1892. He was again elected to the assembly and was treasurer in Braddon's
ministry from April 1894 to December 1898, when he was appointed Agent-General for Tasmania at London.
Fysh took an important part in the federal movement in Tasmania. He was a representative of his colony at the 1891 and 1897 conventions, and was a member of the Australian delegation that watched the passing of the federal bill through the Imperial Parliament.
Fysh was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
in 1901 as a member for Tasmania and was minister without portfolio until 1903. From 1903 Fysh was member for the Division of Denison
and Postmaster-General 1903–04. He retired in 1910. The Canberra
suburb of Fyshwick
is named after him.
Fysh was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
(KCMG) in January 1896. He died in December 1919, aged 84. He was survived by five sons and four daughters.
Cabinet of Australia
The Cabinet of Australia is the council of senior ministers of the Crown, responsible to parliament. The Cabinet is appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister the Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, and serves at the former's pleasure. The strictly private...
.
Fysh was born in Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
, London, the son of John Fysh and his wife Charlotte. He was educated at the Denmark Hill
Denmark Hill
Denmark Hill is an area and road in the London Borough of Southwark. The road forms part of the A215; north of Camberwell Green it becomes Camberwell Road; south of Red Post Hill it becomes Herne Hill. Its postcode is SE5. Nearby streets whose names refer to different aspects of the same...
school in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
. At 13 years of age, Fysh commenced work in a London stockbroker's office, then he obtained a position in the office of a shipping firm, L. Stevenson & Sons, with Australian connexions. Fysh migrated to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1859, becoming a leading merchant (establishing P. O. Fysh and Company), hop
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
-grower and orchardist.
A Protectionist
Protectionist Party
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...
, Fysh was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
from 1866–69, 1870–73, 1884–90, and of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
1873–78 (where he was treasurer in the Alfred Kennerley
Alfred Kennerley
Alfred Kennerley was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 4 August 1873 until 20 July 1876.Kennerley was born in Islington. He was a man of means who came from England to Australia when young and settled in New South Wales. He removed to Hobart, became an alderman about 1860, and...
ministry until March 1875) and 1894–99. Fysh became Premier and Chief Secretary of Tasmania in 1877, serving initially until 1878 and returning to the positions in 1887, serving to 1892. He was again elected to the assembly and was treasurer in Braddon's
Edward Braddon
Sir Edward Nicholas Coventry Braddon, KCMG , Australian politician, was the Premier of Tasmania from 1894 to 1899, and was a Member of the First Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives...
ministry from April 1894 to December 1898, when he was appointed Agent-General for Tasmania at London.
Fysh took an important part in the federal movement in Tasmania. He was a representative of his colony at the 1891 and 1897 conventions, and was a member of the Australian delegation that watched the passing of the federal bill through the Imperial Parliament.
Fysh was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
in 1901 as a member for Tasmania and was minister without portfolio until 1903. From 1903 Fysh was member for the Division of Denison
Division of Denison
The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55...
and Postmaster-General 1903–04. He retired in 1910. The Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
suburb of Fyshwick
Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory
Fyshwick is an industrial suburb of Canberra, located east of the South Canberra district. On Census night 2006, Fyshwick had a population of 54 people....
is named after him.
Fysh was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
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....
(KCMG) in January 1896. He died in December 1919, aged 84. He was survived by five sons and four daughters.