Thomas Burges (July 1830 – 7 August 1893) was an Australian pastoralist and politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia on three occasions – from 1874 to 1878, from 1885 to 1887, and from 1890 until his death.
Thomas Burges | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia | |
| In office 31 December 1874 – 31 January 1878 | |
| Preceded by | None (new creation) |
| Succeeded by | Charles Harper |
| Constituency | North |
| In office 11 July 1885 – 9 June 1887 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Stanley Parker |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Keen Congdon |
| Constituency | None (nominated by governor) |
| In office 24 December 1890 – 7 August 1893 | |
| Preceded by | None (new creation) |
| Succeeded by | Harry Anstey |
| Constituency | None (nominated by governor) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 1830 York, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 7 August 1893 (aged 63) Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
Burges was born in York, Western Australia, to Judith (née Kearnan) and Samuel Evans Burges. His younger half-brother, Richard Goldsmith Burges, was also a member of parliament, as were two of his uncles, William and Lockier Burges. In 1859, Burges acquired Bowes Station, a pastoral lease in the Mid-West that had been established by his uncles. In 1870, he developed Yuin Station, subsequently helping to open a stock route north to the Gascoyne. Burges served on the Northampton Road Board from 1871 to 1877, including as chairman for a period.[1]
In 1874, Burges was elected to the Legislative Council, representing the newly created Northern District.[1] He served until January 1878, when he resigned in order to take a trip to Europe.[2] Burges returned to parliament in July 1885, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council by the governor, Sir Frederick Broome. He resigned in June 1887, but was re-appointed in December 1890, following the council's reconstitution as an upper house (rather than a unicameral chamber).[1] Burges died suddenly in August 1893 (aged 63), from influenza.[3] He had married Augusta Wittenoom (a daughter of John Burdett Wittenoom) in 1860, but they had no children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Thomas Burges – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "NORTH DISTRICT ELECTORATE.", The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth), 6 February 1878.
- ^ "DEATH OF THE HONORABLE THOMAS BURGES.", Victorian Express (Geraldton, Western Australia), 11 August 1893.