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Members of the Australian Senate, 1901–1903

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This is a list of the members of the Australian Senate in the First Australian Parliament, which was elected on 29 March 1901.[1][2] There were 36 senators in this initial parliament. Terms were deemed to start on 1 January 1901. In accordance with section 13 of the Constitution,[3] the Senate resolved that in each State the three senators who received the most votes would sit for a six-year term, finishing on 31 December 1906 while the other half would sit for a three-year term, finishing on 31 December 1903.[4] The process for filing of casual vacancies was complex, with an initial appointment followed by an election.[a] The status of political parties varied, being national,[b] State based,[c] and informal.[d][i]

Quick facts
Members of the Australian Senate, 1901-1903
 ←[[Members of the Australian Senate, |]]
Senate composition at March 1901

  Protectionist (11)

  Labour (8)

  Free Trade (17)
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George Pearce, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the 1901-1903 Senate. Robert Best was the last surviving Protectionist member, and John Clemons was the last surviving Free Trade member.

Senators

More information Image, Member ...
Image Member Party State Term expiry Term start Term end Portfolio Notes
  Sir Richard Baker
(1842–1911)		 Free Trade South Australia 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Retired
  John Barrett
(1858–1928)		 Labour Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 1903 Previously held the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Carlton South. Lost seat
  Protectionist 1903 31 December 1903
  Robert Best
(1856–1946)		 Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously held the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Fitzroy. Re-elected
  Cyril Cameron
(1857–1941)		 Protectionist Tasmania 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 31 December 1903 Lost seat. Later re-elected to the Senate in 1906
  David Charleston
(1848–1934)		 Free Trade South Australia 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 31 December 1903 Previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Lost seat
  John Clemons
(1862–1944)		 Free Trade Tasmania 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 5 September 1914 Re-elected
  Anderson Dawson
(1863–1910)		 Labour Queensland 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Charters Towers. Lost seat
  Hugh de Largie
(1859–1947)		 Labour Western Australia 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1923 Re-elected
  Henry Dobson
(1841–1918)		 Free Trade Tasmania 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Brighton. Re-elected
  Sir John Downer
(1843–1915)		 Protectionist South Australia 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 31 December 1903 Previously held the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Barossa. Retired. Later elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1905
  James Drake
(1850–1941)		 Protectionist Queensland 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Lost preselection and retired
  Norman Ewing
(1870–1928)		 Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 17 April 1903 [g] Previously held the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Swan. Resigned to focus on legal practice. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin in 1909
  John Ferguson
(1830–1906)		 Free Trade Queensland 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 6 October 1903 [j] Simultaneously a member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Seat made vacant due to prolonged absence without permission. Oldest member of the 1901-1903 Senate
  Simon Fraser
(1832–1919)		 Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1913 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Re-elected
  Thomas Glassey
(1844–1936)		 Protectionist Queensland 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 31 December 1903 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Bundaberg. Lost seat
  Albert Gould
(1847–1936)		 Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1917 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Singleton. Re-elected
  Edward Harney
(1865–1929)		 Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 31 December 1903 Retired. Later elected to the British House of Commons seat of South Shields in 1922
  William Higgs
(1862–1951)		 Labour Queensland 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Fortitude Valley. Lost seat. Later elected to the Division of Capricornia in 1910
  John Keating
(1872–1940)		 Protectionist Tasmania 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 30 June 1923 Re-elected. Youngest member of the 1901-1903 Senate
  James Macfarlane
(1844–1914)		 Free Trade Tasmania 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Re-elected
  Charles Mackellar
(1844–1926)		 Protectionist New South Wales 31 December 1903 8 October 1903 [h] [a] 30 November 1903 Previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Resigned to return to the Legislative Council after deciding not to contest the 1903 federal election
  Alexander Matheson
(1861–1929)		 Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Retired
  Gregor McGregor
(1848–1914)		 Labour [e] South Australia 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 13 August 1914 Previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Re-elected
  Edward Millen
(1860–1923)		 Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 14 September 1923 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Bourke. Re-elected
  John Neild
(1846–1911)		 Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Paddington. Re-elected
  Richard O'Connor
(1851–1912)		 Protectionist New South Wales 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 27 September 1903 [h] Previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Resigned in order to become a Justice of the High Court
  David O'Keefe
(1864–1943)		 Protectionist [e] Tasmania 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 May 1901 Lost seat. Later re-elected to the Senate in 1910
  Labour May 1901 31 December 1906
  George Pearce
(1870–1952)		 Labour Western Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1938 Re-elected. Last surviving member of the 1901-1903 Senate
  Thomas Playford II
(1837–1915)		 Protectionist South Australia 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Gumeracha. Lost seat
  Edward Pulsford
(1844–1919)		 Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Re-elected
  Robert Reid
(1842–1904)		 Free Trade Victoria 31 December 1903 21 January 1903 [f] [a] 31 December 1903 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Retired
  Sir Frederick Sargood
(1834–1903)		 Free Trade Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 2 January 1903 [f] Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Died in office
  Henry Saunders
(1855–1919)		 Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1903 20 May 1903 [g] [a] 31 December 1903 Previously a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Lost seat. Later elected to the Legislative Council in 1918
  Staniforth Smith
(1869–1934)		 Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Retired
  James Stewart
(1850–1931)		 Labour Queensland 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 30 June 1917 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Rockhampton North. Re-elected
  James Styles
(1841–1913)		 Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Williamstown. Lost seat
  Sir Josiah Symon
(1846–1934)		 Free Trade South Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1913 Previously held the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Sturt. Re-elected
  James Walker
(1841–1923)		 Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1913 Re-elected
  Sir William Zeal
(1830–1912)		 Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Retired
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Notes

  1. [a]
    Appointments to a casual vacancy only held office until the earlier of the next election for the House of Representatives or the Senate.[5]
  2. [b]
    The Free Trade Party, then known as the Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association, was the only national political party at the 1901 election.
  3. [c]
    There was no national Labour Party organisation at the time of the 1901 election. Members categorised as "Labour" were endorsed by their various state Labour parties.
  4. [d]
    There was no national Protectionist party organisation at the time of the 1901 election. Members categorised as "Protectionist" were those who accepted the leadership of Edmund Barton.
  5. [e]
    Also received Protectonist endorsement; joined the Labour Caucus immediately after the election.[2]
  6. [f]
    Victorian Free Trade Senator Frederick Sargood died on 2 January 1903. Robert Reid was appointed as his replacement on 21 January.
  7. [g]
    Western Australian Free Trade Senator Norman Ewing resigned on 17 April 1903. Henry Saunders was appointed as his replacement on 20 May.
  8. [h]
    New South Wales Protectionist Senator Richard O'Connor resigned on 27 September 1903, to take up a position as a Justice of the new High Court of Australia. Charles Mackellar was appointed as his replacement on 8 October.
  9. [i]
    Changes to the Senate in chronological order were McGregor & O'Keefe joined the Labour caucus,[e] Sargood died,[f] Ewing resigned,[g] and O'Connor resigned.[h]
  10. [j]
    Queensland Free Trade Senator John Ferguson was removed from the Senate on 6 October 1903 due to prolonged absence without permission. His vacancy was not filled due to its proximity from the upcoming federal election

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