John Estell | |
|---|---|
 Estell in 1915 | |
| Member of theNew South Wales Legislative Council | |
| In office 11 April 1899 – 19 June 1901 | |
| In office 26 April 1922 – 18 October 1928 | |
| Member of theNew South Wales Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 3 July 1901 – 13 February 1922 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1861 |
| Died | 18 October 1928(1928-10-18) (aged 67) |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 daughters 5 sons |
John Estell (14 October 1861 – 18 October 1928) was a politician and coal miner in New South Wales, Australia. He was a member of theNew South Wales Parliament for 29 years, including 20 years in theLegislative Assembly. He was a minister in theHolman,Storey andDooleyLabor governments.
Estell was born in theHunter Region coal mining town ofMinmi. He was the son of a coal-miner and was educated to elementary level atRydal,Wallerawang andBathurst public schools. His initial employment was as a steam engine driver at the Minmi Colliery in 1882. He was an office-holder in the Colliery Employees Federation from 1894. He was an elected alderman on thePlattsburg Municipal Council from 1888 till 1901, serving asmayor in 1891, 1897 and 1899.[1]
The Wallsend Protection and Labour League was formed in 1891 and Estell was the president of the league.[2] He sought pre-selection to be theLabour candidate for theLegislative Assembly seat ofWallsend at the1894 election, but was defeated byDavid Watkins.[1] On 8 April 1899, during the premiership ofGeorge Reid, Estell was appointed a member of theNew South Wales Legislative Council,[3] taking his seat on 11 April 1899.[4] Watkins resigned in 1901 to successfully contest the first election for the federaldivision of Newcastle,[5] and Estell resigned from the Legislative Council to successfully contest the1901 election for Wallsend.[6] The result of the1903 New South Wales referendum was to reduce the number of members of the Legislative Assembly and Wallsend was abolished in the resulting redistribution, split betweenNorthumberland andWaratah.[7] Estell was pre-selected as the Labour candidate for Waratah, easily winning it at the1904 election, retaining the seat in 1907 and 1910.[8] Waratah was abolished in the 1912 redistribution and Wallsend re-created,[9] which he easily won in 1913 and was unopposed in 1917.[6]
He was the Laborwhip from 1904 until April 1914 when he was appointed theMinister for Labour and Industry in theHolman Labor ministry, adding the portfolio ofMinister for Mines from March 1915.[4] He opposedconscription in World War I and during the Labor split over the issue, he remained loyal to the party, resigning from the ministry on 31 Oct 1916 due to a report that Holman would enter into a coalition with theLiberal Reform Party. Estell stated that he would not agree to direct association with his political opponents of a lifetime.[10]
In 1920 proportional representation was introduced for elections to the Legislative Assembly, with multi-member seats. Estell was elected third of the five members for the seat ofNewcastle.[11] During the Labor premierships ofJohn Storey andJames Dooley he was theSecretary for Public Works andMinister for Railways from April 1920 till April 1922 except for the 7 hours of the first Nationalist Government ofGeorge Fuller.[4]
Estell resigned from the Assembly on 13 February 1922 and was appointed to the Legislative Council the following day,[12] taking his seat on 11 April 1899 and serving until his death. He did not hold any further parliamentary or ministerial office.[4]
Estell married Alleshia (Alicia) Jane Kirk on 10 September 1885 and they had 8 children, 3 daughters and 5 sons. He died atHamilton on 18 October 1928(1928-10-18) (aged 67), survived by his wife Alicia, 3 daughters and 3 sons.[1]
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Labour and Industry 1914 – 1916 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary for Mines 1915 – 1916 | |
| Preceded by | Secretary for Public Works andMinister for Railways 1920 – 1921 1921 – 1922 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | ||
| New South Wales Legislative Assembly | ||
| Preceded by | Member forWallsend 1901–1904 | District abolished Partly replaced by Waratah |
| Preceded by | Member forWaratah 1904–1913 | District abolished Partly replaced by Wallsend |
| New district | Member forWallsend 1913–1920 | District abolished Absorbed by Newcastle |
| Preceded by | Member forNewcastle 1920–1922 With:Arthur Gardiner Hugh Connell John Fegan William Kearsley /David Murray | Succeeded by |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by Thomas Mitchell | Mayor of Plattsburg 1891 | Succeeded by Robert Weakley |
| Preceded by Adam Cook | Mayor of Plattsburg 1897 | Succeeded by Oswald Steel |
| Preceded by Oswald Steel | Mayor of Plattsburg 1899 | Succeeded by John Hill |
