Edward Flood
Encyclopedia
Edward Flood was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1851 and 1856 and again from 1879 until his death. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1856 and 1872. He was the first Secretary for Public Works in New South Wales.
. He also owned wool stores at Circular Quay, a wool pressing company and flour mills. He was a foundation alderman of Sydney City Council and was a supporter of the Benevolent Society
.
. He represented the electorate of North-Eastern Boroughs until the granting of responsible self-government in 1856. At the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the member for the same seat
. At the next election in 1858 he transferred to the two-member Sydney seat of Cumberland (South Riding)
. This seat was subsequently re-named Canterbury
at the 1859 election and Flood retained it until he resigned in January 1860 apparently after a heated dispute with the Premier, William Forster. He subsequently re-entered the Assembly after winning the seat of Central Cumberland
at the 1869-70 election. He did not willingly contest the 1872 election although he was nominated for the electorate of Newtown
. In 1879 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council, which he retained until his death.
Flood was politically radical and opposed the re-introduction of transportation and the autocratic powers of the Governors prior to the granting of responsible government. He was socially conservative and had a reputation of being a tough businessman who objected to the level of wages demanded by labourers in the colony. His support of Protestantism alienated many in the colony's large Irish community.
. He was appointed on 1 October 1859 but his appointment was curtailed by the fall of Cowper's government 26 days later. William Forster believed that Cowper had created the position and appointed Flood in an unsuccessful attempt to strengthen his parliamentary position.
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...
between 1851 and 1856 and again from 1879 until his death. He was also a member of 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...
between 1856 and 1872. He was the first Secretary for Public Works in New South Wales.
Early life
Flood was the illegitimate son of an Irish convict. He had minimal formal education but became an apprentice carpenter and builder. By 1840 he had become extremely wealthy and had acquired a large amount of city property and pastoral interests including Narrandera Station and property on the Darling RiverDarling River
The Darling River is the third longest river in Australia, measuring from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth, New South Wales. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is long, making it the longest river system in Australia.The...
. He also owned wool stores at Circular Quay, a wool pressing company and flour mills. He was a foundation alderman of Sydney City Council and was a supporter of the Benevolent Society
Benevolent Society
The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall in 1813, is Australia's first charity. It is an independent, non-religious, non-profit organisation which aims to help people overcome the barriers preventing them from participating fully in society...
.
State Parliament
In 1851, prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Flood was elected to the semi-elected New South Wales Legislative CouncilNew 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...
. He represented the electorate of North-Eastern Boroughs until the granting of responsible self-government in 1856. At the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the member for the same seat
Electoral district of North Eastern Boroughs
North Eastern Boroughs was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859 that included the towns of Newcastle, Stockton and Raymond Terrace. It was partly replaced by the electoral district of Newcastle and the electoral district of...
. At the next election in 1858 he transferred to the two-member Sydney seat of Cumberland (South Riding)
Electoral district of Cumberland (South Riding)
Cumberland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, in the rural part of Cumberland County, which includes Sydney...
. This seat was subsequently re-named Canterbury
Electoral district of Canterbury
Canterbury is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Linda Burney of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
at the 1859 election and Flood retained it until he resigned in January 1860 apparently after a heated dispute with the Premier, William Forster. He subsequently re-entered the Assembly after winning the seat of Central Cumberland
Electoral district of Central Cumberland
Central Cumberland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1859 to 1894, in Cumberland County, which includes Sydney...
at the 1869-70 election. He did not willingly contest the 1872 election although he was nominated for the electorate of Newtown
Electoral district of Newtown
Newtown was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Newtown. It elected one member from 1859 to 1880, two members from 1880 to 1885, three members from 1885 to 1891...
. In 1879 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council, which he retained until his death.
Flood was politically radical and opposed the re-introduction of transportation and the autocratic powers of the Governors prior to the granting of responsible government. He was socially conservative and had a reputation of being a tough businessman who objected to the level of wages demanded by labourers in the colony. His support of Protestantism alienated many in the colony's large Irish community.
Government
Flood's only ministerial appointment was as Secretary for Public Works in the second government of Charles CowperCharles Cowper
Sir Charles Cowper, KCMG was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five different occasions from 1856 to 1870....
. He was appointed on 1 October 1859 but his appointment was curtailed by the fall of Cowper's government 26 days later. William Forster believed that Cowper had created the position and appointed Flood in an unsuccessful attempt to strengthen his parliamentary position.