William Austin Zeal
Encyclopedia
Sir William Austin Zeal KCMG (5 December 1830 - 11 March 1912) was an Australia
n railway engineer and politician.
Zeal was born at Westbury, Wiltshire
, England
, the son of Thomas Zeal. Educated privately, Zeal obtained his diploma as a surveyor and engineer, and came to Melbourne
in 1852. Employed as an engineer in charge of railway construction by private contractors, Zeal also served in the government service for some years. He was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for the Electoral district of Castlemaine in 1864, but, having joined forces with Sir William Mitchell
in a station in the Riverina
, resigned his seat in 1866.
Drought conditions caused Zeal to resume his practice as an engineer in 1869, and in the following year he was again elected for Castlemaine, but pressure of business caused him to resign again. In 1882 he entered the Victorian Legislative Council
as a representative of the North Central Province, and in April 1892 he became postmaster-general in the Shiels
ministry. He resigned in November and was elected president of the legislative council. Zeal was re-elected to this position in 1894, 1897 and 1900 and was one of the representatives of Victoria
at the 1897 federal convention that worked towards federation of the six Australian colonies.
At the first federal election in 1901 Zeal was elected to the Australian Senate
as a Protectionist Party
representative for Victoria. He declined to stand in 1906 due to age concerns (he was then in his seventy-sixth year).
Zeal was a director of several leading Melbourne financial companies and he retained his interest in these until his death, following an operation, in 1912. Created K.C.M.G. in 1895, Zeal never married.
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 railway engineer and politician.
Zeal was born at Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Thomas Zeal. Educated privately, Zeal obtained his diploma as a surveyor and engineer, and came to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1852. Employed as an engineer in charge of railway construction by private contractors, Zeal also served in the government service for some years. He was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
for the Electoral district of Castlemaine in 1864, but, having joined forces with Sir William Mitchell
William Mitchell
-People:* W. O. Mitchell , Canadian writer* William A. Mitchell , corporate chemist responsible for Tang and Pop Rocks* William B. Mitchell , former Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court...
in a station in the Riverina
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
, resigned his seat in 1866.
Drought conditions caused Zeal to resume his practice as an engineer in 1869, and in the following year he was again elected for Castlemaine, but pressure of business caused him to resign again. In 1882 he entered the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
as a representative of the North Central Province, and in April 1892 he became postmaster-general in the Shiels
William Shiels
William Shiels , Australian colonial politician, was the 16th Premier of Victoria.-Biography:Shiels was born in County Londonderry, Ireland of a Presbyterian family and arrived in Melbourne as a child in 1853...
ministry. He resigned in November and was elected president of the legislative council. Zeal was re-elected to this position in 1894, 1897 and 1900 and was one of the representatives of 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....
at the 1897 federal convention that worked towards federation of the six Australian colonies.
At the first federal election in 1901 Zeal was elected to the Australian 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,...
as a Protectionist Party
Protectionist Party
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...
representative for Victoria. He declined to stand in 1906 due to age concerns (he was then in his seventy-sixth year).
Zeal was a director of several leading Melbourne financial companies and he retained his interest in these until his death, following an operation, in 1912. Created K.C.M.G. in 1895, Zeal never married.