William Hemmant

The Hon
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 the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for East Moreton
In office
4 November 1871  24 November 1873
Serving with Samuel Griffith
Preceded by Henry Jordan
Succeeded by Seat abolished
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Bulimba
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
Nationality English
Spouse(s) Lucy Elizabeth Ground
Relations Sir James Atkin (Son-in-law)
Occupation Draper, Goldminer Surveyor

William Hemmant (24 November 1837 – 20 September 1916)[1] was a British-Australian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1871 to 1876.[2]

Hemmant was born in Kirkgate, 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 to Ballarat, Victoria, where he worked as miner during the gold rush. He moved to Brisbane the following year, where he established a drapery shop with Alexander Stewart. The Great 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 traveled to England to marry Lucy Ground on the 20 September 1866, and returned to Brisbane early the next year. In1869 he built Eldernell House (named for a settlement in Cambridgeshire, near his wives birthplace) which is now the home of the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane.

Eldernell in the suburb of Hamilton, photographed circa 1919

Hemmant was a director of the Australian Bank of Commerce and an alderman on the Brisbane City Council. He won the seat of East Moreton in the Legislative Assembly in 1871,[2] and successfully contested Bulimba in 1873.[2] He served as Colonial Treasurer from 1874 to 1876.[2] He is credited with producing four badges as candidates for the Flag 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 in Kent. He built a house called Bulimba in Sevenoaks. All told, Hemmant and Lucy had 10 children. He died on 20 September 1916, his 50th wedding anniversary.

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Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
Henry Jordan
Member for East Moreton
1871 – 1873
Served alongside: Samuel Griffith
Abolished
New seat Member for Bulimba
1873 – 1876
Succeeded by
James Johnston
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