Thomas Rusden
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rusden was an Australian politician and pastoralist. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1855 and 1856 and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for one term between 1856 and 1857.
in 1835. After a liberal education under his father's tutorship, Rusden squatted
in the New England district and by 1844 he had acquired substantial property including 60,000 acres of pastoral land in the Shannon Vale area near Glen Innes
. His nine siblings included Francis Rusden
, who was also a pastoralist and member of the Legislative Assembly, the historian George Rusden and the polemicist and noted public servant Henry Rusden.
. Rusden was defeated at the next election in 1858. He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position. He was unsuccessful in four attempts to regain the seat.
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 1855 and 1856 and 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 one term between 1856 and 1857.
Early life
Rusden was the son of an Anglican clergyman who migrated to New South Wales and was appointed to a chaplaincy in MaitlandMaitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
in 1835. After a liberal education under his father's tutorship, Rusden squatted
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....
in the New England district and by 1844 he had acquired substantial property including 60,000 acres of pastoral land in the Shannon Vale area near Glen Innes
Glen Innes, New South Wales
Glen Innes is a parish and town on the Northern Tablelands, in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the centre of the Glen Innes Severn Shire Council. The town is located at the intersection of the New England Highway and the Gwydir Highway...
. His nine siblings included Francis Rusden
Francis Rusden
Francis Rusden was an Australian politician and pastoralist. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1856 and 1857 and again between 1860 and 1864.-Early life:...
, who was also a pastoralist and member of the Legislative Assembly, the historian George Rusden and the polemicist and noted public servant Henry Rusden.
State Parliament
In 1855, prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Rusden was elected to the Legislative Council. He represented the electorate of New England and Macleay until the granting of responsible self-government in 1856. Subsequently, at the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the two members for the same seatElectoral district of New England and Macleay
New England and Macleay was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, in the New England and the Mid North Coast regions, including the Macleay River. It elected two members, with voters casting two votes and the first two...
. Rusden was defeated at the next election in 1858. He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position. He was unsuccessful in four attempts to regain the seat.