Alexander Poynton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Honourable Alexander Poynton, OBE, (8 August 1853 - 9 January 1941), was an Australian pioneer and politician.

Poynton was born in Castlemaine, Victoria and settled in Port Augusta, South Australia in 1889. Here he was involved in the organisation of a sheering workers' union. He entered state politics in 1893 and was an inaugural member for South Australia (which was not divided into electorates at the 1901 ballot) in the Australian House of Representatives. In 1903 he was elected as member for Grey, an electorate he represented until 1922.

Poynton represented three political parties during his time in federal parliament; the Free Trade Party (1901-1903), the Labor Party (1903-1917) and the Nationalist Party (1917-1922). He was Treasurer from 14 November 1916 to 17 February 1917 and later held the offices of Minister for Home and Territories and Postmaster-General.

Among his political achievements was the eventual establishment of a railway between Port Augusta and Western Australia, for which he lobbied nearly 18 years.

Preceded by William Higgs

Treasurer of Australia 1916–1917

Succeeded by Sir John Forrest