Franc Falkiner

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Franc Brereton Sadleir Falkiner (17 June 1867 – 30 October 1929) was an Australian politician and sheep breeder, born in Ararat, Victoria to Frank Sadleir Falkiner and Emily Elizabeth, nee Bazley. His brother, Otway Falkiner, was often his partner through life.

Falkiner was educated at Geelong Church of England Grammar School, although in 1878 the family moved to the Riverina as a result of Otway's asthma. Franc managed properties for some time, and in 1909 became managing director of F. S. Falkiner & Sons Ltd on the death of his father.

A founding member of Conargo Shire Council (formed in 1906), Falkiner's political interests were awakened by the 1910 Federal land tax, which prompted him to enter the Australian House of Representatives. He won the seat of Riverina in 1913, representing the Commonwealth Liberal Party, but lost it to the former member, John Chanter, the following year. He won Hume in 1917 for the Nationalist Party, but was defeated in his attempt to transfer to the Senate in 1919. A brusque and humorous politician, Falkiner derided Labor Prime Minister Andrew Fisher's 1912 maternity allowance as a "bangle bonus".

On his departure from politics, Falkiner concentrated on breeding sheep, and was president of the Southern Riverina Pastoralists' Union, one of the founders of the Australian Stud Merino Flock Register, and a director of the Bank of New South Wales from 1919-1929. He was known as a breeder of merino sheep.

Falkiner died on 30 October 1929 at Bungendore of intracranial haemorrhage, and was survived by his wife, Ethel Elizabeth (nee Howat), whom he had married on 5 May 1902, and his two sons and two daughters.

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Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
John Chanter		 Member for Riverina
1913 – 1914		 Succeeded by
John Chanter
Preceded by
Robert Patten		 Member for Hume
1917 – 1919		 Succeeded by
Parker Moloney
Persondata
NAME Falkiner, Franc Brereton Sadleir
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Falkiner, Bert
SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian politician and sheep breeder
DATE OF BIRTH 17 June 1867
PLACE OF BIRTH Ararat, Victoria
DATE OF DEATH 30 October 1929
PLACE OF DEATH Bungendore, New South Wales