Electoral district of West Moreton (Queensland)

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. 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. 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. 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.

Members for West Moreton

Three member electorate (1860–73)MemberPartyTermMemberPartyTermMemberPartyTerm   Alfred Broughton Unaligned 1860   George Thorn (senior) Unaligned 1860–61   William Nelson Unaligned 1860–60   Joseph Fleming Unaligned 1860–62   Henry Challinor Unaligned 1861–63   Benjamin Cribb Unaligned 1861–67   Joshua Peter Bell Unaligned 1862–68   Robert Herbert Unaligned 1863–66   Joseph Fleming Unaligned 1866–67   George Thorn, Jr. Unaligned 1867–1873   Patrick O'Sullivan Unaligned 1867–68   Samuel Hodgson Unaligned 1868–70   Frederick Forbes Unaligned 1868–73   John Ferrett Unaligned 1870–73

Single member electorateFirst incarnation (1873–78)MemberPartyTerm   James Foote Unaligned 1873–77Second incarnation (1932–1949)MemberPartyTerm   Ted Maher Country and Progressive National 1932–36   Country 1936–49

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

See also Electoral districts of Queensland Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly by year :Category:Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly by name

References