David Hall (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
David Robert Hall was an Australia
n politician.
Hall was born in Harrietville, Victoria
, and studied law at the University of Sydney
before becoming a barrister in 1903. By that time, he had already become involved in state politics, having been elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
as the member for the rural electorate of Gunnedah
in 1901.
Hall made a switch to federal politics at the 1906 election, contesting the House of Representatives
seat of Werriwa
for the Australian Labor Party
. He was successful, defeating Alfred Conroy
, the sitting Commonwealth Liberal Party
member. Hall represented the electorate until 1912, when he resigned mid-term to return to State politics. At the subsequent by-election, the new Labor candidate, Benjamin Bennett
, once again defeated Conroy.
New South Wales Premier
James McGowen
appointed Hall Minister of Justice and Solicitor General in April 1912 and had him appointed to the Legislative Council
in July 1912. He won the seat of Enmore
in December 1913 and held it to 1920. From 1914 to 1919, he was Attorney General. In 1916, he was expelled from the Labor Party for supporting conscription. He continued to be Attoreny-General in the Holman
government, but was no longer Minister of Justice. In 1919 he became Minister for Housing until February 1920. He was then appointed Agent General
to London, but this appointment was cancelled by the incoming Storey
Labor government.
Hall subsequently had a legal career and ran unsuccessfully for the United Australia Party
in the Senate
in 1937. He died in Vaucluse
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician.
Hall was born in Harrietville, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and studied law at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
before becoming a barrister in 1903. By that time, he had already become involved in state politics, having been elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
as the member for the rural electorate of Gunnedah
Electoral district of Gunnedah
Gunnedah was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1880, partly replacing Liverpool Plains, and named after and including Gunnedah. In 1904 it was abolished and replaced by Liverpool Plains and Namoi.-Members for Gunnedah:...
in 1901.
Hall made a switch to federal politics at the 1906 election, contesting the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
seat of Werriwa
Division of Werriwa
The Division of Werriwa is a Federal Electoral Division for the Australian House of Representatives.The name Werriwa derives from a local Aboriginal name for Lake George, which was located in the division when it was established in 1900. The division was one of the original 75 divisions first...
for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
. He was successful, defeating Alfred Conroy
Alfred Conroy
Alfred Hugh Beresford Conroy was an Australian politician. Born in Winchelsea, Victoria, he was educated at Hawthorn Grammar School in Melbourne. Becoming a bank clerk and surveyor, he moved to Goulburn in New South Wales in 1883. In 1893 he became a barrister, and he was an alderman on Goulburn...
, the sitting Commonwealth Liberal Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
member. Hall represented the electorate until 1912, when he resigned mid-term to return to State politics. At the subsequent by-election, the new Labor candidate, Benjamin Bennett
Benjamin Bennett
Benjamin Holland Bennett was an Australian politician. Born in Young, New South Wales, he was educated at public schools before becoming the manager and editor of the family-run newspaper in Young...
, once again defeated Conroy.
New South Wales Premier
Premiers of New South Wales
The Premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature...
James McGowen
James McGowen
James Sinclair Taylor McGowen was an Australian politician and the first Labor Premier of New South Wales from 21 October 1910 to 30 June 1913.-Early life and family:...
appointed Hall Minister of Justice and Solicitor General in April 1912 and had him appointed to the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
in July 1912. He won the seat of Enmore
Electoral district of Enmore
Enmore was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1913. With the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into the multi-member electorate of Botany. It was recreated in 1927, but was abolished in 1930 and...
in December 1913 and held it to 1920. From 1914 to 1919, he was Attorney General. In 1916, he was expelled from the Labor Party for supporting conscription. He continued to be Attoreny-General in the Holman
William Holman
William Arthur Holman was an Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales, Australia, who split with the party on the conscription issue in 1916 during World War I, and immediately became Premier of a conservative Nationalist Party Government.-Early life:Holman was born in St Pancras, London,...
government, but was no longer Minister of Justice. In 1919 he became Minister for Housing until February 1920. He was then appointed Agent General
Agent General
An Agent-General was the representative in the United Kingdom of the government of a British colony in Nigeria, Canada, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand and subsequently, of a Nigerian Region, Canadian Province or an Australian State in the United Kingdom...
to London, but this appointment was cancelled by the incoming Storey
John Storey (politician)
John Storey was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales from 12 April 1920 until his sudden death in Sydney...
Labor government.
Hall subsequently had a legal career and ran unsuccessfully for the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
in the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
in 1937. He died in Vaucluse
Vaucluse, New South Wales
Vaucluse is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Vaucluse is located north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Council and the Municipality of Woollahra....
.