William McAdam (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
William James McAdam was an Australian politician.
Born in Emerald Hill to blacksmith Alexander McAdam and Mary Ann Vigar, he attended state schools in Ballarat
before becoming a bread carter. He became an organiser of the Bread Carters Union in 1904, rising to become secretary in 1924. On 21 February 1905 he married Sarah Robin, with whom he had four daughters. He became an organiser with the Ballarat Municipal Employees section of the Shop Assistants and Textile Workers Union
in 1916, and federal secretary of the union from 1917 to 1924. From 1920 to 1924 he was president of the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council (he would hold the position again from 1947 to 1956). In 1924 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
as the Labor
member for Ballarat East
; he transferred to Ballarat in 1927, and was defeated in 1932. He made unsuccessful attempts to return to politics via a by-election for Allandale
in 1933, Ballarat in 1935, and the Senate
in 1940. McAdam died at Ballarat in 1967 and is buried in Ballarat Cemetery.
Born in Emerald Hill to blacksmith Alexander McAdam and Mary Ann Vigar, he attended state schools in Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
before becoming a bread carter. He became an organiser of the Bread Carters Union in 1904, rising to become secretary in 1924. On 21 February 1905 he married Sarah Robin, with whom he had four daughters. He became an organiser with the Ballarat Municipal Employees section of the Shop Assistants and Textile Workers Union
Australian Textile Workers' Union
The Australian Textile Workers' Union was an Australian trade union which existed from 1919 to 1987. The ATWU represented Australian workers employed in the manufacture of textiles, including the spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing of all types of fibres...
in 1916, and federal secretary of the union from 1917 to 1924. From 1920 to 1924 he was president of the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council (he would hold the position again from 1947 to 1956). In 1924 he 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:...
as the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member for Ballarat East
Electoral district of Ballarat East
Ballarat East is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria. It is a 3,323 km² part-urban and part-rural electorate covering areas to the east of the regional centre of Ballarat...
; he transferred to Ballarat in 1927, and was defeated in 1932. He made unsuccessful attempts to return to politics via a by-election for Allandale
Electoral district of Allandale
The electoral district of Allandale was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria.-Members for Allandale:...
in 1933, Ballarat in 1935, and the 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,...
in 1940. McAdam died at Ballarat in 1967 and is buried in Ballarat Cemetery.