David Forrest (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
David Forrest was an Australian politician, a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 1900 to 1901, holding the seat of Ashburton
. He was the younger brother of Sir John Forrest
and Alexander Forrest
, and the great-grandfather of Andrew Forrest
.
Forrest was the sixth child of William and Margaret Forrest. He was born at his parents' flour mill on Preston River
at Picton, near Bunbury, Western Australia
. He initially attended a one-room school that his father had built on his property, then later attended Bishop Hale's
school (now Hale School
) in Perth.
From 1873 to 1876, Forrest worked with sheep at Cubbine station near Quairading.
In 1874, Forrest drove
a mob of sheep to a new lease of land (granted to Forrest, his brothers John and Alexander, and Septimus Burt
) known as Minderoo, in the Ashburton district, and subsequently became the manager of the new station
.
In 1881, Forrest married Mary Parker at York
, after a seven-year engagement. They had seven children, three of whom died as infants.
Forrest was the first chairman of the Ashburton Roads Board, a justice of the peace
, and Member of the Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Ashburton
from 1900 to 1901.
Forrest retired to Clarement
, and died in 1917. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery
.
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
from 1900 to 1901, holding the seat of Ashburton
Electoral district of Ashburton
Ashburton was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1901 and again from 1989 to 1996....
. He was the younger brother of Sir John Forrest
John Forrest
Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament....
and Alexander Forrest
Alexander Forrest
Alexander Forrest CMG, was an explorer and surveyor of Western Australia, as well as a politician.-Early life:Forrest was born at Picton, near Bunbury in Western Australia, the son of William and Margaret Forrest...
, and the great-grandfather of Andrew Forrest
Andrew Forrest
Andrew Forrest also known by his nickname "Twiggy", is a Western Australian mining entrepreneur, former chief executive officer, non-executive chairman, and the major shareholder of Fortescue Metals Group...
.
Forrest was the sixth child of William and Margaret Forrest. He was born at his parents' flour mill on Preston River
Preston River
The Preston River is a river in the South West region of Western Australia.The river has a total length of and rises near Goonac siding then flows in a North Westerly direction until discharging into the Leschenault Estuary....
at Picton, near Bunbury, Western Australia
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
. He initially attended a one-room school that his father had built on his property, then later attended Bishop Hale's
Matthew Blagden Hale
Matthew Blagden Hale was the first Bishop of Perth and then the Bishop of Brisbane.Born in Alderley, Gloucestershire, England, Matthew Hale was the son of Robert and Lady Theodosia . His maternal grandfather was The Earl of Mayo, Lord Archbishop of Tuam...
school (now Hale School
Hale School
Hale School is a selective, independent, Anglican day and boarding school for boys, located in Wembley Downs, a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
) in Perth.
From 1873 to 1876, Forrest worked with sheep at Cubbine station near Quairading.
In 1874, Forrest drove
Droving
Droving is the practice of moving livestock over large distances by walking them "on the hoof".Droving stock to market, usually on foot and often with the aid of dogs, has a very long history in the old world...
a mob of sheep to a new lease of land (granted to Forrest, his brothers John and Alexander, and Septimus Burt
Septimus Burt
The Hon Septimus Burt KC was a Western Australian lawyer, politician and grazier, the son of Sir Archibald Burt.He was born on 25 October 1847 at St Kitts in the West Indies, and educated at a private school at Melksham, Wiltshire, England...
) known as Minderoo, in the Ashburton district, and subsequently became the manager of the new station
Sheep station
A sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the Merinos are usually in the high country of the South...
.
In 1881, Forrest married Mary Parker at York
York, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
, after a seven-year engagement. They had seven children, three of whom died as infants.
Forrest was the first chairman of the Ashburton Roads Board, a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
for the seat of Ashburton
Electoral district of Ashburton
Ashburton was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1901 and again from 1989 to 1996....
from 1900 to 1901.
Forrest retired to Clarement
Claremont, Western Australia
Claremont is a western suburb of Perth, Western Australia on the north bank of the Swan River.-History:Prior to European settlement, the Noongar people used the area as a source of water, for fishing and for catching waterfowl. In 1830, John Butler, a settler, set up an inn at Freshwater Bay to...
, and died in 1917. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
.