Elias Weekes
Encyclopedia
Elias Weekes was an Australian ironmonger and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1865 and 1880. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1856 and 1864. He served two terms as the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales.
. He had a rudimentary education and work in commercial occupations in England. Weekes emigrated to Sydney in 1837 and had established successful ironmongery and wine importation businesses by 1855. He was a director of The Bank of New South Wales
. Philosophically a liberal, he became politically active during the 1840s and 1850s and opposed the conservative constitution proposed by William Wentworth. He was a member of the committee of the Anti-Transportation League
and an alderman of the Sydney Municipal Council between 1850 and 1853.
and Northumberland Boroughs
. He was elected for Cumberland (South Riding) but was defeated by Bourn Russell
in Northumberland Boroughs. However, Russell's election was overturned on appeal and Weekes was declared elected and chose to represent the seat until it was abolished at the next election. He then represented West Maitland
until 1864. In 1865 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council.
between April and October 1859. He held the same position in the first Robertson and third Cowper governments between 1860 and 1863 when worsening eyesight forced him to resign from the government. He was a strong advocate of legislation to restrict Chinese immigration and opposed state aid to religious schools.
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 1865 and 1880. 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 1864. He served two terms as the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales.
Early life
Weekes was the son of a shipwright at Chatham DockyardChatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
. He had a rudimentary education and work in commercial occupations in England. Weekes emigrated to Sydney in 1837 and had established successful ironmongery and wine importation businesses by 1855. He was a director of The Bank of New South Wales
Westpac
Westpac , is a multinational financial services, one of the Australian "big four" banks and the second-largest bank in New Zealand....
. Philosophically a liberal, he became politically active during the 1840s and 1850s and opposed the conservative constitution proposed by William Wentworth. He was a member of the committee of the Anti-Transportation League
Australasian Anti-Transportation League
The Australasian Anti-Transportation League was a body established to oppose Penal transportation to Australia. Beginning in Van Diemen's Land in the late 1840s, it had branches in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canterbury...
and an alderman of the Sydney Municipal Council between 1850 and 1853.
State Parliament
At the first election under the new constitution Weekes contested the seats 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...
and Northumberland Boroughs
Electoral district of Northumberland Boroughs
Northumberland Boroughs was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, including the towns of Morpeth, East Maitland, and West Maitland, and named after Northumberland County...
. He was elected for Cumberland (South Riding) but was defeated by Bourn Russell
Bourn Russell
Bourne Russell was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1858 and 1880...
in Northumberland Boroughs. However, Russell's election was overturned on appeal and Weekes was declared elected and chose to represent the seat until it was abolished at the next election. He then represented West Maitland
Electoral district of West Maitland
West Maitland was a former electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1859 to 1904, including the town of Maitland.-Members for West Maitland:...
until 1864. In 1865 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council.
Government
Weekes was the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales in the second government of William CowperWilliam Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry...
between April and October 1859. He held the same position in the first Robertson and third Cowper governments between 1860 and 1863 when worsening eyesight forced him to resign from the government. He was a strong advocate of legislation to restrict Chinese immigration and opposed state aid to religious schools.