Electoral district of West Moreton (Queensland) explained

West Moreton
State:qld
Lifespan:1860-1878, 1932-1949

West Moreton was the name of two incarnations of an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.

History

The original district, named for the region it covered, took in all of the Brisbane River catchment area as well as Ipswich and Laidley, bordering New South Wales to the south. It elected three members from 1860 to 1873 and one member from 1873 until its abolition in 1878.

The district was re-created in 1932 to take in an area west of Brisbane. It was abolished in 1949.

Elections

1860–1863

In the inaugural 1860 election, there were five candidates for the three-member electoral district of West Moreton: George Thorn (senior), Alfred Broughton, Pollett Cardew, J. Kent, and the Rev. Dr. William Nelson.[1] [2] On election day 3 May 1860, Thorn, Broughton and Nelson were elected. However, Mr Chubb on behalf of the unsuccessful Mr Cardew protested against the election of the Reverend Nelson as he was a priest in holy orders and was therefore disqualified from being elected. The Rev. Nelson then announced that he had resigned his religious role.[3] On 22 June 1860, the Committee on Elections ruled that the Rev. Nelson was disqualified and a new election must be called to replace him.[4] Joseph Fleming won the resulting by-election on 9 July 1860.

Fleming held the seat until he resigned on 3 November 1862 when he became bankrupt. Joshua Peter Bell won the resulting by-election on 15 December 1862.[5] [6] [7]

Members for West Moreton

Three member electorate (1860–73)
MemberPartyTermMemberPartyTermMemberPartyTerm
 Alfred BroughtonUnaligned1860 George Thorn (senior)Unaligned1860–61 William NelsonUnaligned1860–60
 Joseph FlemingUnaligned1860–62
 Henry ChallinorUnaligned1861–63
 Benjamin CribbUnaligned1861–67
 Joshua Peter BellUnaligned1862–68
 Robert HerbertUnaligned1863–66
 Joseph FlemingUnaligned1866–67
 George Thorn, Jr.Unaligned1867–1873 Patrick O'SullivanUnaligned1867–68
 Samuel HodgsonUnaligned1868–70 Frederick ForbesUnaligned1868–73
 John FerrettUnaligned1870–73
Single member electorate
First incarnation (1873–78)
MemberPartyTerm
 James FooteUnaligned1873–77
Second incarnation (1932–1949)
MemberPartyTerm
 Ted MaherCountry and Progressive National1932–36
 Country1936–49

Notable members

The district seated two Premiers: Robert Herbert and George Thorn, Jr.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: WEEKLY EPITOME. . . Brisbane . 5 May 1860 . 27 January 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Summary FOR ENGLAND. . . Brisbane . 5 May 1860 . 27 January 2015 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: WEEKLY EPITOME. . . Brisbane . 12 May 1860 . 27 January 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. . . Ipswich, Qld. . 22 June 1860 . 27 January 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  5. 26 January 2015.
  6. 26 January 2015.
  7. Web site: Fleming, Joseph. Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. 26 January 2015.