William Hemmant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Treasurer of Queensland | |
| In office 8 January 1874 – 5 June 1876 | |
| Preceded by | Joshua Bell |
| Succeeded by | James Dickson |
| Constituency | Bulimba |
| Member of theQueensland Legislative Assembly forEast Moreton | |
| In office 4 November 1871 – 24 November 1873 Serving with Samuel Griffith | |
| Preceded by | Henry Jordan |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of theQueensland Legislative Assembly forBulimba | |
| In office 25 November 1873 – 26 June 1876 | |
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | James Johnston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1837-10-24)24 October 1837 Kirkgate, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 20 September 1916(1916-09-20) (aged 78) Sevenoaks,Kent, England |
| Spouse | Lucy Elizabeth Ground |
| Relations | Sir James Atkin (son-in-law) |
| Children | George Hemmant[1] (son) |
| Occupation | Draper,goldminer,surveyor |
William Hemmant (24 November 1837 – 20 September 1916)[1] was a British-Australian politician who served in theLegislative Assembly of Queensland from 1871 to 1876.[2]
Hemmant was born inKirkgate, Yorkshire, England, to Thomas and Isabella (née Richmond)[1] on 24 November 1837.[1] He worked as a draper in London before moving in 1859 toBallarat,Victoria, where he worked as miner during thegold rush. He moved toBrisbane the following year, where he established a drapery shop withAlexander Stewart. TheGreat Fire of Brisbane in 1864 was said by some to have started in the Stewart and Hemmant shop, and the two gave evidence during a colonial inquiry into the fire. Nonetheless, the two built a successful department store and clothing manufactury.[2]
He travelled to England to marry Lucy Ground on 20 September 1866, and returned to Brisbane early the next year. In 1869 he built Eldernell House (named for a settlement in Cambridgeshire, near his wife's birthplace) which is now the home of theAnglican Archbishop of Brisbane.
Hemmant was a director of the Australian Bank of Commerce and an alderman on theBrisbane City Council. He won the seat ofEast Moreton in the Legislative Assembly in 1871,[2] and successfully contestedBulimba in 1873.[2] He served as Colonial Treasurer from 1874 to 1876.[2] He is credited with producing four badges as candidates for theFlag of Queensland, from which the current badge, a crowned Maltese cross, was chosen.
After he left politics in 1876, he returned to England with his family, settling inKent. He built a house called Bulimba inSevenoaks. Hemmant and Lucy had 10 children, one of whom was colonial administratorGeorge Hemmant.
William Hemmant died on 20 September 1916, his 50th wedding anniversary.
The south Brisbane suburb ofHemmant is named after him.[3]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Parliament of Queensland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member forEast Moreton 1871–1873 Served alongside:Samuel Griffith | District abolished |
| New seat | Member forBulimba 1873–1876 | Succeeded by |
