Joseph Creer (1 February 1832 – 17 August 1913) was a Manx-born Australian politician and cabinetmaker.

Mr Joseph Creer MLA

Early life

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He was born on the Isle of Man to farmer Patrick Creer and Ann Quirk. He married Annie Harrison at Liverpool in 1854; they had nine children.[1] In 1855 he migrated to New South Wales, settling in Maitland, where he worked as a builder and broom manufacturer.[2] He left Maitland due to flooding and moved to Newcastle in 1870, working as a cabinet maker, until his business was destroyed by fire. He then established a successful business as an auctioneer. He was a prominent member of the temperance movement in Newcastle,[2] and was appointed a magistrate in 1880.[3]

Civic and political career

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In 1867 he was elected an alderman of the Borough of West Maitland.[4] He was defeated in February 1869,[5] but re-elected to a casual vacancy in April 1869.[6] He was first elected an alderman for Newcastle in 1875, serving until 1887,[3] including as Mayor of Newcastle in 1881. In 1885 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as one of the members for Northumberland on a protectionist platform. An independent protectionist when political parties emerged in 1887, he joined the Protectionist Party in 1889 and held his seat until his defeat in 1891.[7] He did not hold any ministerial or parliamentary office.[1]

Later life and death

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Creer was appointed superintendent of the government labour bureau in 1892, holding the position for ten years until 1901 when he was appointed a Labour Commissioner, before retiring in 1902 when he went on a trip to Europe and North America.[8] He moved to Summer Hill on his return,[9] where he died in 1913 (aged 82).[1][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mr Joseph Creer (1832 - 1913)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Mr Joseph Creer JP, Mayor of Newcastle". The Bulletin. 10 September 1881. ISSN 0007-4039. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  3. ^ a b "Mr J Creer, MLA for Northumberland". Australian Town and Country Journal. 2 April 1887. p. 10. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "West Maitland municipal election". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 9 April 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "West Maitland aldermanic election". The Newcastle Chronicle. 11 February 1869. p. 3. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "West Maitland Borough Council". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 25 March 1869. p. 1. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  7. ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Northumberland". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Mr Joseph Creer". The Australian Star. 11 April 1902. p. 7. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "Mr Joseph Creer". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 19 August 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "Death of Mr Joseph Creer". The Maitland Daily Mercury. 19 August 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via Trove.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Northumberland
1885 – 1891
With: Ninian Melville
none/Thomas Walker
Succeeded by
Civic offices
Preceded by
Samuel Chapman
Mayor of Newcastle
1881
Succeeded by
Thomas Brooks