Austin Chapman

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Postmaster-General of Australia
In office
5 July 1905 – 30 July 1907
Prime MinisterAlfred Deakin
Preceded bySydney Smith
Succeeded bySamuel Mauger
Minister for Defence
In office
24 September 1903 – 27 April 1904
Prime MinisterAlfred Deakin
Preceded byJames Drake
Succeeded byAnderson Dawson
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Eden-Monaro
In office
29 March 1901 – 12 January 1926
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byJohn Perkins
Personal details
Born
Austen Chapman
Nationalist
(1917–1926)
Spouse
Catherine O'Brien
​
(m. 1894)​
RelationsAlbert Chapman (brother)
Children4, including John
OccupationCompany director

Sir Austin Chapman

Minister for Health
(1923–1924).

Early life

Chapman was born on 10 July 1864 in Bong Bong, New South Wales. He was the son of Monica (née Cain; also spelt Kean or Kein) and Richard Chapman, his father being a wheelwright and publican. His mother was born in Ireland. His given name was spelled "Austen" until 1897.[1]

Chapman attended the state school in

Goulburn and Mudgee. By 1885 he was operating Chapman's Hotel in Bungendore, close to the eventual site of Canberra. Chapman moved to Sydney in 1887 and went into partnership with Edward William O'Sullivan in an auctioneering firm, of which he was managing partner. He was also the proprietor of the Emu Inn on Bathurst Street. His partnership with O'Sullivan was dissolved in 1889, and he subsequently established the Royal Hotel in Braidwood.[1]

New South Wales politics

In 1891 Chapman was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as MLA for Braidwood.[2] He was an active supporter of federation of the Australian colonies.[1]

Federal politics

Chapman c. 1907/08

In

KCMG.[1]

Chapman had a significant role during the selection of Australia's national capital site, Canberra. A strong advocate for the rival site of Dalgety—legislated as the capital site by the Seat of Government Act 1904—he stated in August 1906 that, "I will defend Dalgety to the end. Any change from the selection already made can only be achieved over my political corpse."[3]

In early 1908, he conceded that Canberra was "the second best site, but Dalgety easily stands first."[4] As the process finally reached its conclusion, later in 1908, Chapman was suffering ill health. In his absence, although he had been paired for the ballots so as not to prejudice the outcome, at the ninth ballot Dalgety went down to Yass-Canberra by 39 votes to 33.[5][6]

However, once Canberra had been selected, Chapman strenuously advocated the development of the site on the

John Austin Chapman who both became distinguished soldiers.[1][8] The Canberra suburb of Chapman was named after him.[9]

References

  1. ^
    ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Sir Austin Chapman (1864–1956)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Search for a capital". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. 21 August 1906. Retrieved 9 October 2021 – via Trove.
  4. The Sunday Sun
    . 5 January 1908. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "Mr Austin Chapman". The Queanbeyan Age. 29 September 1908. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Capital site". The Argus. 9 October 1908. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "The Hon. Austin Chapman". The Queanbeyan Age. 7 February 1911. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via Trove.
  8. ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Place name search". ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development. Retrieved 12 January 2023.

 

Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Defence
1903–1904 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Postmaster-General

1905–1907 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Trade and Customs

1907–1908 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Trade and Customs

1923–1924 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Health

1923–1924 		Succeeded by
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Braidwood
1891–1901 		Succeeded by
Parliament of Australia
New parliament Member for Eden-Monaro
1901–1926 		Succeeded by
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