Simon Fraser (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Simon Fraser Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate
and the grandfather of Malcolm Fraser
, Prime Minister of Australia
from 1975 to 1983.
Fraser was born in Pictou
in Nova Scotia
, Canada
, the son of a Scottish
timber miller and farmer. When he was 21 he emigrated to the goldfields of Victoria
in search of his fortune. After a time prospecting in Bendigo
he became a contractor, soon moving into railways and becoming by the 1870s a wealthy man. One of the more notable contracts was the supply of ballast to the new D & M Railway, a privately owned rail from Moama to Deniliquin
in southern New South Wales. Instead of supplying blue metal, Fraser supplied quartz from the slag heaps of Bendigo. It met the specifications of the contract, but was not what was expected by the owners of the railway. He later bought extensive estates in the Western District of Victoria and became a leader of the wealthy wool
-growing class known as the squatters
.
Fraser was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Rodney
in 1876 where he served until 1883. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
, the traditional preserve of the squatters, for South Yarra Province in 1886, and remained a member until 1901. He was a Minister without Portfolio from 1890 to 1892. He was a Victorian delegate to the Imperial Conference in Ottawa
in 1894, and a member of the Constitutional Convention
which drafted the Australian Constitution.
In 1901, following the federation of the Australian colonies, Fraser was elected as one of the first six members from Victoria of the Australian Senate
, where he sat until his retirement in 1913. He was elected as a supporter of Edmund Barton
's Protectionist Party
, but he was not a supporter of Barton's more liberal successor, Alfred Deakin
, and sat as an independent conservative until 1909, when he became a member of Deakin's Commonwealth Liberal Party
, although still belonging to its conservative wing. He was given a knighthood, becoming Sir Simon Fraser, in 1918.
Fraser married Margaret Bolger in 1862 and had two daughters. Following her death he married Anne Collins in 1885 and had three sons with her. One of these, Neville Fraser, inherited Simon Fraser's property at Balpool in the Riverina
district of New South Wales
, where his son Malcolm Fraser
grew up.
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
and the grandfather of Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
, Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
from 1975 to 1983.
Fraser was born in Pictou
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km north of the larger town of New Glasgow....
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the son of a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
timber miller and farmer. When he was 21 he emigrated to the goldfields of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in search of his fortune. After a time prospecting in Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
he became a contractor, soon moving into railways and becoming by the 1870s a wealthy man. One of the more notable contracts was the supply of ballast to the new D & M Railway, a privately owned rail from Moama to Deniliquin
Deniliquin
Deniliquin, known locally as "Deni", is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales close to the border with Victoria.Deniliquin is located at the intersection of the Riverina and Cobb Highway approximately south west of the state capital, Sydney and north of Melbourne...
in southern New South Wales. Instead of supplying blue metal, Fraser supplied quartz from the slag heaps of Bendigo. It met the specifications of the contract, but was not what was expected by the owners of the railway. He later bought extensive estates in the Western District of Victoria and became a leader of the wealthy wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
-growing class known as the squatters
Squatting (pastoral)
In Australian history, a squatter was one who occupied a large tract of Crown land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first Europeans in the area....
.
Fraser was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
for the seat of Rodney
Electoral district of Rodney
The Electoral district of Rodney is a Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate in Northern Victoria.The Rodney District covers an area of 7,808 square kilometres, including the towns of Echuca, Rochester, Nathalia, Cohuna, Heathcote, Gunbower, Kyabram, Rushworth and Stanhope.The district...
in 1876 where he served until 1883. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
, the traditional preserve of the squatters, for South Yarra Province in 1886, and remained a member until 1901. He was a Minister without Portfolio from 1890 to 1892. He was a Victorian delegate to the Imperial Conference in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1894, and a member of the Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention (Australia)
In Australian history, the term Constitutional Convention refers to four distinct gatherings.-1891 convention:The 1891 Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney in March 1891 to consider a draft Constitution for the proposed federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. There...
which drafted the Australian Constitution.
In 1901, following the federation of the Australian colonies, Fraser was elected as one of the first six members from Victoria of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, where he sat until his retirement in 1913. He was elected as a supporter of Edmund Barton
Edmund Barton
Sir Edmund Barton, GCMG, KC , Australian politician and judge, was the first Prime Minister of Australia and a founding justice of the High Court of Australia....
's Protectionist Party
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...
, but he was not a supporter of Barton's more liberal successor, Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
, and sat as an independent conservative until 1909, when he became a member of Deakin's Commonwealth Liberal Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
, although still belonging to its conservative wing. He was given a knighthood, becoming Sir Simon Fraser, in 1918.
Fraser married Margaret Bolger in 1862 and had two daughters. Following her death he married Anne Collins in 1885 and had three sons with her. One of these, Neville Fraser, inherited Simon Fraser's property at Balpool in the Riverina
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
district 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...
, where his son Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
grew up.
External links
- Sir Simon Fraser (1832-1919) Gravesite at Brighton General Cemetery (Vic) where it is believed Malcolm FraserMalcolm FraserJohn Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
will be interred on his death.