John Russell Walter (23 June 1863 – 27 June 1944) was an Australian farmer and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1903 to 1904, representing the seat of Nelson.
John Walter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia | |
| In office 11 December 1903 – 28 June 1904 | |
| Preceded by | Sir James Lee-Steere |
| Succeeded by | Charles Layman |
| Constituency | Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 June 1863 Bishop's Hull, Somerset, England |
| Died | 27 June 1944 (aged 81) Bridgetown, Western Australia |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
Walter was born in Bishop's Hull, Somerset, England. In February 1881, at 17 years of age, he entered into the University of Oxford,[1] where, like his brother William, he competed in bicycle races[2] as a member of the Oxford University Cycling Club. After leaving school, he lived in Canada for a period, spending two years at the Ontario Agricultural College in Toronto.[3] He migrated to Western Australia in 1887,[4] joining his older brother, William Ardagh Gardner Walter (later a well-known magistrate).[5] After a few months near Busselton, Walter acquired a property near Bridgetown, where he farmed sheep.[4] He was elected to the Nelson Road Board in 1901, and served until 1909, including as chairman for several periods. Following the death of Sir James Lee-Steere in December 1903, Walter nominated for his vacant seat of Nelson, and was elected unopposed.[6] Once in parliament, he sat as a Ministerialist (an opponent of the government of Walter James).[7] However, Walter's time in parliament was short-lived, as he did not nominate for the 1904 state election. He recontested Nelson at the 1905 election, but was unsuccessful in regaining his seat, losing to his successor, Charles Layman.[8] After leaving parliament, Walter remained active in local affairs in Bridgetown, serving as a justice of the peace and as president of the local agricultural society. He died in June 1944, aged 81.[3]
References edit
- ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
- ^ "Palmares John Russell Walter on CyclingRanking". CyclingRanking.com.
- ^ a b John Russell Walter – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ a b "INTERESTING HISTORY OF BRIDGETOWN PIONEERS" – The Blackwood Times (Bunbury, Western Australia), 31 December 1953.
- ^ David, Black (1990). "Walter, William Ardagh Gardner (1860–1940)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 12. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538.
- ^ "THE NELSON ELECTORATE." – The West Australian, 12 December 1903.
- ^ "W.A. PARLIAMENT." – Kalgoorlie Miner, 16 December 1903.
- ^ Black, David; Prescott, Valerie (1997). Election statistics : Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, 1890-1996. Perth, [W.A.]: Western Australian Parliamentary History Project and Western Australian Electoral Commission. ISBN 0730984095.