Thomas Holt (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Holt was an Australian pastoralist, company director and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1868 and 1883. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for two periods between 1856 and 1857 and again between 1861 and 1864. Holt was the first Colonial Treasurer in New South Wales.
. He initially worked in his father's firm in Leeds
but after 3 years became a wool buyer in London. Subsequently, Holt emigrated to Sydney in 1842 and made a fortune as a wool merchant. He was also a director of numerous colonial companies including the Sydney Railway Company. Holt invested extensively in pastoral land and by 1860 had acquired more than 3 million acres (12,140.6 km²) in New South Wales and Queensland. As a result, he was independently wealthy and retired from active business in 1855.
After building a gothic stone mansion, "The Warren", on land overlooking the Cooks River
in Marrickville
, Holt stocked the grounds with imported European rabbits for breeding and hunting. Animals escaping from this property contributed to the Australian rabbit plague
. Holt also had an extensive estate in the Sans Souci
area of Sydney. In later life he was a founder of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
, a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales
and a patron of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
. In 1881, Holt retired to England and became a generous supporter of the Salvation Army
and Dr Barnardo's Homes
(including Brisbane and Ipswich
) which, prior to the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony in 1859, was part of New South Wales . At the next election in 1858, Holt was defeated in an attempt to transfer to the seat of Cumberland (South Riding)
. He re-entered the Assembly as the member for Newtown
at a 1861 by-election caused by the resignation of Alexander McArthur
but resigned from the seat before the next election in 1864-5. In 1868 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council.
Holt was a supporter of free-trade and had a liberal political philosophy. Throughout his political career he campaigned for education, gaol and immigration reform and spent a small fortune supporting Henry Parkes
' "Empire"
newspaper.
. He held this position for 81 days.
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
between 1868 and 1883. He was also a member of 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...
for two periods between 1856 and 1857 and again between 1861 and 1864. Holt was the first Colonial Treasurer in New South Wales.
Early life
Holt was the son of a Yorkshire wool merchant and was educated in WakefieldWakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
. He initially worked in his father's firm in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
but after 3 years became a wool buyer in London. Subsequently, Holt emigrated to Sydney in 1842 and made a fortune as a wool merchant. He was also a director of numerous colonial companies including the Sydney Railway Company. Holt invested extensively in pastoral land and by 1860 had acquired more than 3 million acres (12,140.6 km²) in New South Wales and Queensland. As a result, he was independently wealthy and retired from active business in 1855.
After building a gothic stone mansion, "The Warren", on land overlooking the Cooks River
Cooks River
The Cooks River is a 23 kilometre long urban waterway of south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia emptying into Botany Bay. The course of the river has been altered to accommodate various developments along its shore...
in Marrickville
Marrickville, New South Wales
Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney's Inner West is located 7 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia and is the largest suburb in the Marrickville Council local government area...
, Holt stocked the grounds with imported European rabbits for breeding and hunting. Animals escaping from this property contributed to the Australian rabbit plague
Rabbits in Australia
In Australia, rabbits are a serious mammalian pest and are an invasive species. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops.-Effects on Australia's ecology:...
. Holt also had an extensive estate in the Sans Souci
Sans Souci, New South Wales
Sans Souci is a southern Sydney suburb in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sans Souci is 17 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Rockdale and the Municipality of Kogarah. It is part of the St George area.Sans...
area of Sydney. In later life he was a founder of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Missenden Road in Camperdown...
, a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales
Royal Society of New South Wales
The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
and a patron of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales is an Agricultural society based in New South Wales, Australia. They run many of the agricultural shows around New South Wales including the Sydney Royal Easter Show....
. In 1881, Holt retired to England and became a generous supporter of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and Dr Barnardo's Homes
State Parliament
Holt was unsuccessful at two attempts to enter the Legislative Council prior to the establishment of responsible self-government in 1856. However, at the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the two members for Stanley BoroughsElectoral district of Stanley Boroughs
Stanley Boroughs was a former electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1856 election, named after the County of Stanley and including the towns of North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point and Ipswich. The surrounding rural parts of...
(including Brisbane and Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
) which, prior to the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony in 1859, was part of New South Wales . At the next election in 1858, Holt was defeated in an attempt to transfer to the seat of Cumberland (South Riding)
Electoral district of Cumberland (South Riding)
Cumberland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, in the rural part of Cumberland County, which includes Sydney...
. He re-entered the Assembly as the member for Newtown
Electoral district of Newtown
Newtown was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Newtown. It elected one member from 1859 to 1880, two members from 1880 to 1885, three members from 1885 to 1891...
at a 1861 by-election caused by the resignation of Alexander McArthur
Alexander McArthur
Alexander McArthur was an Australian and British businessman and politician in both countries.McArthur was born at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland, the son of John McArthur, a Wesleyan minister, and his wife Sarah, née Finlay. In 1830 he was apprenticed to a merchant in Omagh...
but resigned from the seat before the next election in 1864-5. In 1868 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council.
Holt was a supporter of free-trade and had a liberal political philosophy. Throughout his political career he campaigned for education, gaol and immigration reform and spent a small fortune supporting Henry Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
' "Empire"
Empire (newspaper)
The Empire was a newspaper published in Sydney, Australia. It was published from 28 December 1850 to 14 February 1875, except for the period from 28 August 1858 to 23 May 1859, when publication was suspended....
newspaper.
Government
Holt was New South Wales' inaugural Colonial Treasurer in the liberal government of Stuart DonaldsonStuart Donaldson
Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson was the first Premier of the Colony of New South Wales.-Early life:Donaldson was born in London, England. He entered his father's firm at the age of 15 and was sent first to Mexico , for business training, and then to Sydney, where he arrived in 1835...
. He held this position for 81 days.