George Elmslie (politician) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
George Elmslie
Nationality:Australian
Order1:25th Premier of Victoria
Elections: 1914, 1917
Term Start1:9 December 1913
Term End1:22 December 1913
Monarch1:George V
Predecessor1:William Watt
Successor1:William Watt
Office2:Leader of the Opposition of Victoria
Term Start2:22 December 1913
Term End2:11 May 1918
Premier2:William Watt
Sir Alexander Peacock
John Bowser
Harry Lawson
Predecessor2:William Watt
Successor2:George Prendergast
Term Start3:17 September 1913
Term End3:9 December 1913
Premier3:William Watt
Predecessor3:George Prendergast
Successor3:William Watt
Office4:Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria
Term Start4:17 September 1913
Term End4:11 May 1918
Deputy4:John Billson
Predecessor4:George Prendergast
Successor4:George Prendergast
Office5:Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Albert Park
Term Start5:1 October 1902
Term End5:11 May 1918
Predecessor5:John White
Successor5:Joseph Hannan
Birth Date:21 February 1861
Birth Place:Lethbridge, Victoria, British Empire
Birth Name:George Alexander Elmslie
Death Place:Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Spouse:Clara Ellen Williams (m. 1887)
Children:2
Profession:Stonemason

George Alexander Elmslie (21 February 1861 – 11 May 1918) was an Australian politician who served as the 25th and shortest serving Premier of Victoria, and the first Labor Premier.

Biography

Elmslie was born in Lethbridge, near Geelong, and although he had a secondary education, he followed his father's trade as a stonemason. He was employed on the first Wilson Hall at Melbourne University and on St Patrick's Cathedral. From 1888 he was an official of the Operative Stonemason's Society, and a delegate to the Melbourne Trades Hall. He was also President of the South Melbourne Football Club, ancestor of the Sydney Swans.[1]

Career

In 1898, Elmslie was one of the founders of the Victorian Labour Federation, which had as its object "the unification of the workers in one all-comprehensive and extensive union."

In 1902, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as Labor member for Albert Park. Labor in Victoria in the early federal period was much weaker than in the other states, partly because of the continuing attraction of Deakinite liberalism for many voters, partly because Victoria did not have the huge pastoral and mining areas that the other mainland states had. The Parliamentary Labor Party remained small and contained limited talent. Elmslie became deputy leader in 1912 and leader in 1913.

At the 1911 election, Labor won only 20 seats to the various factions of the Liberal Party's 43. But in December 1913 the Liberal Premier, William Watt resigned after a dispute with the rural faction of his own party. The acting Governor, Sir John Madden, surprised the Liberals by sending for Elmslie, who on 9 December formed Victoria's first Labor government.

Elmslie had no chance of a long tenure, or even of meeting the House as Premier, since under the law of the time ministers had to resign their seats and contest by-elections before they could take their seats. The Liberal factions re-united, and Watt moved a no-confidence motion in Elmslie, which Elmslie had to watch from the gallery since he was technically not a member. Elmslie was duly voted out and Watt resumed office on 22 December.[2] Elmslie's premiership lasted just 13 days.

Elmslie remained as Labor leader until shortly before his death in 1918, although his health had broken down in 1916, requiring a long break. During World War I Elmslie supported the Allied cause but opposed conscription for overseas service. He died at his home in Albert Park and was given a state funeral.[2]

Elmslie was largely forgotten until members of the Labor Historical Graves Committee discovered his neglected grave in the Melbourne General Cemetery in the 1990s. A new memorial headstone over his grave was unveiled by Steve Bracks, Labor Premier of Victoria, on 9 March 2001.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. 1185 . George Alexander Elmslie . 17 February 2019.
  2. elmslie-george-alexander-6109 . Elmslie, George Alexander (1861–1918) . Barry O . Jones.