Robert Blackwood (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Officer Blackwood (24 June 1861 – 22 September 1940) was an Australia
n politician, businessman and pastoralist. He was briefly a member of the Australian House of Representatives
for the Division of Riverina
.
Blackwood was born in 1861 at Crowlands in Victoria, the son of Richard Blackwood (d. 1881) and Isabella, née Officer. He attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School (1878–79), where he gained a reputation as an athlete. He was admitted to Trinity Hall, Cambridge
in 1882, where he began boxing
– he later became the runner-up in the amateur light-weight boxing championship in England
. He returned to Australia in 1889, taking over his father's property in partnership with his brothers.
An active community member around Deniliquin, Blackwood was a member of the Pastoralists' Association of Victoria and Southern Riverina. A supporter of Sir George Reid
, he was elected to the House of Representatives for Riverina
in New South Wales
in 1903 by only five votes, representing the Free Trade Party
. On petition by the former member, John Chanter
, however, the result was declared void on the grounds of electoral irregularities. Blackwood, who lost the subsequent by-election, was cleared of all charges but never stood for parliament again.
Blackwood continued to be active in rural affairs, becoming vice-president of the Pastoralists' Union of Southern Riverina in 1906. He was president of the Conargo Shire
in 1907, and represented many companies; he became chairman of Dalgety & Co. and Australian Farms Ltd, and president of the Victorian Employers' Association and the Registered Clubs' Association of Victoria from 1916-30. He also became vice-president of the Royal Agricultural Society
from 1920-1938.
Blackwood married Constance Ferrier Mailton on 23 July 1895 at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
. Despite his deteriorating health he maintained contact with his business affairs until his death on 22 September 1940 at St Kilda
; he was survived by his wife. He had no children.
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, businessman and pastoralist. He was briefly a member of 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....
for the Division of Riverina
Division of Riverina
The Division of Riverina is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in south-west rural New South Wales, generally following the Murrumbidgee River valley. It includes the cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith as well as the towns of Junee, West Wyalong, Tumut,...
.
Blackwood was born in 1861 at Crowlands in Victoria, the son of Richard Blackwood (d. 1881) and Isabella, née Officer. He attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School (1878–79), where he gained a reputation as an athlete. He was admitted to Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
in 1882, where he began boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
– he later became the runner-up in the amateur light-weight boxing championship 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...
. He returned to Australia in 1889, taking over his father's property in partnership with his brothers.
An active community member around Deniliquin, Blackwood was a member of the Pastoralists' Association of Victoria and Southern Riverina. A supporter of Sir George Reid
George Reid (Australian politician)
Sir George Houstoun Reid, GCB, GCMG, KC was an Australian politician, Premier of New South Wales and the fourth Prime Minister of Australia....
, he was elected to the House of Representatives for Riverina
Division of Riverina
The Division of Riverina is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in south-west rural New South Wales, generally following the Murrumbidgee River valley. It includes the cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith as well as the towns of Junee, West Wyalong, Tumut,...
in 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...
in 1903 by only five votes, representing the Free Trade Party
Free Trade Party
The Free Trade Party which was officially known as the Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association, also referred to as the Revenue Tariff Party in some states and renamed the Anti-Socialist Party in 1906, was an Australian political party, formally organised between 1889 and 1909...
. On petition by the former member, John Chanter
John Chanter
John Moore Chanter was an Australian politician, farmer and commission agent. He was variously a member of the Protectionist Party, Australian Labor Party and Nationalist Party of Australia....
, however, the result was declared void on the grounds of electoral irregularities. Blackwood, who lost the subsequent by-election, was cleared of all charges but never stood for parliament again.
Blackwood continued to be active in rural affairs, becoming vice-president of the Pastoralists' Union of Southern Riverina in 1906. He was president of the Conargo Shire
Conargo Shire Council
Conargo Shire Council is a local government area in New South Wales, Australia. It is the smallest Local Government Area in New South Wales. Conargo Shire was established in 1907. In 2001 the former Windouran shire was absorbed into Conargo Shire. This amalgamation resulted in an additional...
in 1907, and represented many companies; he became chairman of Dalgety & Co. and Australian Farms Ltd, and president of the Victorian Employers' Association and the Registered Clubs' Association of Victoria from 1916-30. He also became vice-president of the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
from 1920-1938.
Blackwood married Constance Ferrier Mailton on 23 July 1895 at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
. Despite his deteriorating health he maintained contact with his business affairs until his death on 22 September 1940 at St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
; he was survived by his wife. He had no children.