Forrest Ministry

The Forrest Ministry was the first government ministry in Western Australia, after the inauguration of responsible government. It was in government from 29 December 1890 to 14 February 1901, when it was succeeded by the Throssell Ministry following the 1901 elections.

The members of the Forrest Ministry were:

Office Minister Start of term End of term
Premier[1]
Colonial Treasurer
Sir John Forrest 29 December 1890 14 February 1901
Colonial Secretary
Minister for Education[2]
George Shenton 29 December 1890 11 October 1892
Stephen Henry Parker 11 October 1892 4 December 1894
Sir John Forrest 4 December 1894 28 April 1898
George Randell 28 April 1898 15 February 1901[3]
Attorney-General Septimus Burt 29 December 1890 27 October 1897
Richard Pennefather 27 October 1897 15 February 1901
Commissioner of Crown Lands William Marmion 29 December 1890 4 December 1894
Alexander Richardson (Australian politician) 4 December 1894 13 March 1897
George Throssell 13 March 1897 15 February 1901
Commissioner of Railways
Minister for Works
Harry Venn 29 December 1890 10 March 1896
Frederick Henry Piesse 1 April 1896 23 August 1900
Barrington Wood 10 September 1900 15 February 1901[3]
Minister for Education[2] Edward Wittenoom 19 December 1894 12 May 1897
Henry Lefroy 12 May 1897 28 April 1898
Minister for Mines Edward Wittenoom 19 December 1894 28 April 1898
Henry Lefroy 28 April 1898 15 February 1901[3]
Minister without portfolio Septimus Burt 29 December 1898 15 February 1901

Notes

1 According to Reid & Oliver (1982, p.1), the office of Premier was not provided for in the Constitution Act 1889, which only mention the "principal executive offices of the Government liable to be vacated on political grounds". However, the Governor of Western Australia, Sir William Robinson GCMG, used the courtesy title of Premier to refer to the leader of the Government in public statements, as did the media, and its use was in keeping with that prevalent in other British crown colonies.
2 The responsibility for Education lay with the Colonial Secretary in the Forrest Ministry except during the period 19 December 1894–28 April 1898. A separate Minister for Education was not re-installed until the Daglish Ministry took office in 1904.
3 Three of the ministers were subsequently sworn in in the same substantive role under the Throssell Ministry.

References