George Lionel THROSSELL [17526]

  General Notes:

Throssell, George (1840'961910)
by Donald S. Garden </biographies/author/?author=1408>
This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography </about-us/>, Volume 12, (MUP), 1990

George Throssell (1840-1910), merchant and premier, was born on 24 May 1840 at Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, son of (George) Michael Throssell, mail clerk, and his wife Jane. As a guard in the convict transport Scindian, Michael brought his family to Western Australia in 1850 and became a sergeant of police in Perth. George was sent to school. With the death of his mother in 1854 and his father in 1855, he found himself rearing a younger brother and sister. He sailed to Adelaide, sent them on to Sydney to be raised by a relation, and returned alone and poor to Perth. Having joined Walter Padbury <padbury-walter-4355>'s mercantile firm, he spent evenings at the Swan River Literary and Debating Society where Joseph Reilly <reilly-joseph-thomas-8178> extended his education. About 1860, while manager of the firm's premises at Guildford, Throssell met Anne Morrell, daughter of an early settler and farmer in the Northam district; George married Anne on 6 June 1861 in St George's Cathedral, Perth.

Next year Throssell opened his own store in Northam's main street. Combining financial expertise, hard work and drive, he became the region's most successful businessman. He gave credit to small-farmers, bought and sold stock, crops and sandalwood, speculated in land and was a building contractor. As the dominating personality in the community life of the district he loved, he dreamed of opening the country to small-farmers. An active Anglican, he was a foundation member of Northam Mechanics' Institute and of the local temperance movement and lodges. He sat on the School Board, Road Board, Farmers' Club and Settlers' Association. A founder of Northam Municipal Council in 1879, he was mayor in 1887-94. Partly due to Throssell, Northam gained a branch of the Avon Valley railway in 1886.

From 1890 he represented Northam in the new Legislative Assembly, holding the seat until 1904 and only once being opposed in five elections. He supported (Sir) John Forrest <forrest-john-6211>'s government and influenced the decision in 1892 to choose Northam as the starting point of the railway to the eastern goldfields. The town grew to be the principal centre of the Avon Valley and that made Throssell wealthy; his enterprises expanded into pastoral and metropolitan ventures. In parliament he advocated land reform, supporting the 1893 Homesteads Act and the 1894 Agricultural Bank Act. As commissioner for crown lands from March 1897, he used the 1896 Homesteads Land Purchase Act to enable the government to acquire and subdivide a number of large estates.

'The lion of Northam' had the luxuriant silver hair of a patriarch, a buoyant and assertive optimism and 'a habit of placing a hand on your shoulder when speaking'. He kept a shrewd eye on the main chance. Deafness led him to construct a large cardboard 'sounding-board' which he held against his chest with one corner of it in his mouth: he rid himself of tedious deputations by removing it to terminate the interview. He succeeded Forrest as premier on 15 February 1901, but Throssell's government was short-lived. Although a competent administrator, he was not a strong political leader and his deafness imposed limitations. The factions supporting his party drifted apart and Throssell lost his majority. At the April election many of his followers lost their seats. On 27 May he resigned and returned to the back-bench.

Three years later he retired to Fermoy, his mansion on the hill overlooking Northam. His wife died in 1906. Next year Throssell won the Legislative Council seat of East Province and in 1909 was appointed C.M.G. He fell down a staircase at his home, jarring his spine, died four days later on 30 August 1910 and was buried in Northam cemetery. His estate was sworn for probate at £50,879. He was survived by six daughters and five sons of his fourteen children, the most famous of whom was Hugo Throssell <throssell-hugo-vivian-hope-8806>.


Wikipedia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Throssell>
George Lionel Throssell CMG was the second Premier of Western Australia. He served for just three months, from 15 February to 27 May 1901, during a period of great instability in Western Australian politics. George Throssell was born at Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, on 23 May 1840.

Biography
UPD 14 JUN 2015 08:42:40 GMT -0500
Burial: Date: SEP 1910
Place: Northam Cemetery, Western Australia
Occupation: 2nd Premier for Western Australia
Date: BET 15 FEB AND 27 MAY 1901
Place: Western Australia
Immigration: Date: 1 JUN 1850
Place: Fremantle, West Australia
THROSSELL, GEORGE (1840-1910), merchant and premier, was born on 24 May 1840 at Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, son of (George) Michael Throssell, mail clerk, and his wife Jane. As a guard in the convict transport Scindian,
In 1853 George was a student in the first class at Perth Colonial Boys School and he was awarded equal Fourth Prize for the year.
In May 1963 George was appointed Postmaster of Northam.
"Michael brought his family to Western Australia in 1850 and became a sergeant of police in Perth. George was sent to school. With the death of his mother in 1854 and his father in 1855, he found himself rearing a younger brother and sister. He sailed to Adelaide, sent them on to Sydney to be raised by a relation, and returned alone and poor to Perth. Having joined Walter Padbury's mercantile firm, he spent evenings at the Swan River Literary and Debating Society where Joseph Reilly extended his education. About 1860, while manager of the firm's premises at Guildford, Throssell met Anne Morrell, daughter of an early settler and farmer in the Northam district; George married Anne on 6 June 1861 in St George's [Old] Cathedral, Perth. Next year Throssell opened his own store in Northam's main street. Combining financial expertise, hard work and drive, he became the region's most successful businessman. He gave credit to small farmers, bought and sold stock, crops and sandalwood, speculated in land and was a building contractor. As the dominating personality in the community life of the district he loved, he
dreamed of opening the country to small-farmers. An active Anglican, he was a foundation member of Northam Mechanics' Institute and of the local temperance movement and lodges. He sat on the School Board, Road Board, Farmers' Club and Settlers' Association. A founder of Northam Municipal Council in 1879, he was Mayor in 1887-94. Partly due to Throssell, Northam gained a branch of the Avon Valley railway in 1886.

From 1890 he represented Northam in the new Legislative Assembly, holding the seat until 1904 and only once being opposed in five elections. He supported (Sir) John Forrest's government and influenced the decision in 1892 to choose Northam as the starting point of the railway to the eastern goldfields. The town grew to be the principal centre of the Avon Valley and that made Throssell wealthy; his enterprises expanded into pastoral and metropolitan ventures. In parliament he advocated land reform, supporting the 1893 Homesteads Act and the 1894 Agricultural Bank Act. As Commissioner for crown lands from March 1897, he used the 1896 Homesteads Land Purchase Act to enable the government to acquire and subdivide a number of large estates. 'The lion of Northam' had the luxuriant silver hair of a patriarch, a buoyant and assertive optimism and 'a habit of placing a hand on your shoulder when speaking'. He kept a shrewd eye on the main chance. Deafness led him to construct a large cardboard 'sounding board' which he held against his chest with one corner of it in his mouth: he rid himself of tedious deputations by removing it to terminate the interview.

He succeeded Forrest as premier on 15 February 1901, but Throssell's government was short-lived. Although a competent administrator, he was not a strong political leader and his deafness imposed limitations. The factions supporting his party drifted apart and Throssell lost his majority. At the April election many of his followers lost their seats. On 27 May he resigned and returned to the backbench.

Three years later he retired to 'Fermoy', his mansion on the hill overlooking Northam. His wife died in 1906. Next year Throssell won the Legislative Council seat of East Province and in 1909 was appointed C.M.G. He fell down a staircase at his home, jarring his spine, died four days later on 30 August 1910 and was buried in Northam cemetery. "
His estate was sworn for probate at 50,879 pounds. He was survived by six daughters and five sons of his fourteen children, the most famous of whom was Hugo Throssell, V.C.

Select Bibliography
W.B. Kimberly, History of West Australia (Melb, 1897); Truthful Thomas, Through the Spy-Glass (Perth, 1905); O.L.B., George Throssell, an Appreciation (Northam, WA, 1910); J.S. Battye (ed), Cyclopedia of Western Australia, vol 2 (Adelaide, 1913); J. Kirwan, My Life's Adventure (Lond, 1936); D.S. Garden, Northam, an Avon Valley History (Melb, 1979); Western Australian Bulletin, 9 June 1888; Northam Advertiser, 19 Aug 1905, 23 May 1906, 17 Aug 1907, 31 Aug, 17 Sept 1910; Western Mail (Perth), 10 Sept 1910; E. Bartlett-Day, Reminiscences (manuscript, State Library of Western Australia); G. Throssell estate papers (manuscript, State Library of Western Australia).

  Research Notes:

Geraldton Advertiser (WA : 1893 - 1905) Fri 13 May 1904 Page 3 LOCAL MR GEORGE THROSSELL NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE MRS THROSSELL'S CONDITION ALSO SERIOUS Northam, May 13 A message from Northam late last night stated that Mr George Throssell, M.L.A., who has been laid up for some time past, was dangerously ill, and that his medical attendants had given up all hope of his recovery. The condition of Mrs Throssell, who has also been invalided for a considerable time was, last night, considered to be serious. Mr and Mrs Throssell's sons and daughters, with the exception of Mr Lionel Throssell, who is now in England en route to America, were called to their parents' residence "Fermoy," yesterday evening.


The Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette (Cue, WA : 1894 - 1925) Sat 14 May 1904 Page 2 ILLNESS OF MR. THROSSELL. PERTH, Friday. Mr. Geo, Tbrossell, M.L.A., is now lying seriously ill at his home in Northam, being seized with frequent heart attacks. No hope is held out of his recovery. Mrs. Tbrossell is also suffering from similar attacks, but her condition is less serious than that of her husband.


Mount Magnet Miner and Lennonville Leader (WA : 1896 - 1926) Sat 14 May 1904 Page 2 WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ILLNESS OF MR GEORGE THROSSELL. Perth, Friday. News has been received from Northam of the severe illness of Mr Geo. Throssell, ex-Minister for Lands. A cable has been despatched to his son, who is in England, calling him home.


Norseman Times (WA : 1898 - 1920) Fri 20 May 1904 Page 3 MR. THROSSELL'S ILLNESS. Perth, Friday. Last night the condition of Mr. Throssell was very critical. The Premier received from Mr. Throssell a message thanking him for his kind enquiries and concluding with the words, "Good-bye. Excelsior."


The Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955) Sat 23 Jul 1904 Page 2 Personal: Mr. Geo. L. Throssell arrived back in this State per the R.M.S. Orontes on Thursday, after spending a very enjoyable holiday in England, Scotland, and on the Continent. Mr. Throssell looks very well, and, needless to say, he received a very warm welcome back from his many friends in the town. The Hon. Geo. Throssell is in receipt of a letter from the Premier, the Hon. Walter James, K.C., stating that, in recognition of his splendid services to the State for many years, the Government would not ask him to return his gold railway pass, although he had ceased to be a member of the Legislature. He trusted that Mr. Throssell would live many years to use as a traveller the railways of the State he had done so much to place in a sound and prosperous condition.


Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954) Sun 11 Aug 1907 Page 3 Throssell Old Georg Throssell, whose immediate election to the House of Ham Fat lóoks like a dead cert., indicates that he will not oppose the Land Tax. His reason is worth quoting. "Already 333 men have teen discharged from the railway. Far better that we landowners who are receiving so much direct assistances from the Government railway policy, which is sustaining and enhancing the value of our lands, should make, this sacrifice for a time, than that we should bring about a 'Black Wednesday' by a wholesale retrenchment of employees." We always reckoned Throssell was a broader minded man than most of his class.


The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Wed 31 Aug 1910 Page 5 GEORGE THROSSELL. The death of George Throssell, under somewhat tragic circumstances, has moved the heart of Western Australia to sincere-sorrow. For Mr. Throssell was universally respected and even loved by men and women of all parties and all creeds. He had also high capacity, and, but for a physical defect, would probably have, taken a far more prominent part in the political life of the State particularly in recent years. He did, indeed, for a time occupy the high position of Premier of the State. But Mr. Throssell's claim to the regard of his fellows did not rest on political distinctions; it rested on the sterling merits of the man. Clear-headed, public-spirited, yet warm-hearted and kindly, George, Throssell was one of the noblest of the sons of Western Australia. And we are all poorer by lis death. After all, the unfortunate accident but cut off a few years of his life, for he had reached an advanced age His work, in a sense, was done, and it will remain a monument to his memory and a stimulus and inspiration to the great State he loved so deeply and served so well.


The Narrogin Observer and Williams District Representative (WA : 1905 - 1930) Sat 3 Sep 1910 Page 5 Death of Mr. Geo. Throssell. General regret was expressed throughout the district when it became known that Mr. George Throssell died at his residence on Tuesdav evening last as the result of an accident sustained on the previous Friday. The deceased gentleman arrived at Northam from Perth by the night express and proceeded to his home. When about to retire he turned out the lights, Chinking he could find the way to his room in the dark. He, however, took a wrong turning, with the result that he fell to the bottom of a flight of stairs, receiving some nasty knocks on the way and violently striking his head against a wall at the bottom. His two daughters, Miss Throssell and Mrs. Callaghan, who had retired to rest for the night, on hearing the noise provoked by their father's fall, hurried to the bottom of the stairs, where they found him bleeding profusely from a severe wound in the scalp. Dr. Rockett was at once summoned to attend the injured man, and on examination found that, ovving to concussion of the spine, paralysis of both arms and legs. Mr. Throssell retained consciousness and was particularly cheerful to the end. The funeral took place on Wednesday and was attended by one of the most influential gatherings of public men that could be brought together at short notice in this State. Parliament had adjourned out of respect for the deceased's memory, and a large party of members left Perth for Northam by special train. As the time approached for the cortege to move off the house was surrounded by dozens of vehicles overcrowded with people anxious to pay a last tribute of respect to the deceased. The streets en route to the church were lined with people, and old residents declare that never had a funeral in Northam been characterised by more widespread grief.


Northam Courier (WA : 1909 - 1922) Tue 6 Sep 1910 Page 2
Late Mr Throssell
Memorial Services
There was a large congregation at St. John's Church on Sunday morning at the service held in memory of the late Hon. George Throssell. The Rector, the Rev. R. H. Moore, officiated. Taking for his text the verse "Seek first the Kingdom af God and the righteousness of it, and all these things shall be added unto you," the Rector delivered an impressive address. He described the late Mr. Throssell as a deeply religious man", and one who al ways gave freely to help the work, of the church. He believed that what was given to the service of God was never lost. On one occasion he contributed the sum of £100 to some particular work in the church, and was remonstrated with by his wife. Soon, afterwards a commercial venture in which Mr. Throssell was concerned, and which had not appeared very promising, yielded a return of £800. Mr Throssell told the news to his wife. "What | did I tell you?" he said; "I have got my money back, and £700 to spare." But for his munificence they could not have done such good work in connection with what was known as the Backblocks Mission. The speaker went on to refer to the deceased as a regular church-goer, and one who was opposed to Sabbath desecration. Death had no terrors for him, and three times he faced it without flinching. He had learned something of the country to which he was going, and it was not to him a dark unknown. In conclusion the Rector said he proposed that as a memorial to the late Mr. Throssell they should secure a bell for the church. It would cost little more than £100, and its deep, full notes would ring out over hill and dale, calling people to worship God, and reminding them of he who had gone. When they heard the bell they, would say, "He, being dead, yet speaketh." Appropriate hymns were sung during the service, including "For Ever With the Lord" and "Rock of Ages." Holy Communion was partaken of, and at the conclusion of the service the congregation stood with bowed heads while the "Dead March" was played by the organist, Mrs. Carlton, The altar was draped in white, with black bands. Mr. Throssell had often expressed an objection to the use of black, and the white drapings were used in conformity with his wishes. At Wesley Church on Sunday night the Rev. J. G. Jenkin also delivered an address on the late Mr. Throssell, and referred to the great work done by that gentleman in the promotion of land settlement. Not long before the end Mr. Throssell, speaking to those about him, said: "I did not think it was so easy to die; I am very happy." Death to him was nothing more " than transition, and a passing into a richer and fuller life.

George married Isabel Roberta COTTRELL [17527] [MRIN: 6464], daughter of Living and Living, on 1 Oct 1896 in St Bede's Church, Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia. (Isabel Roberta COTTRELL [17527] was born 7 Jan 18790 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 31 Dec in Northam, Western Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Sat 7 Nov 1896
Marriage:
THROSSELL - COTTRELL. On the 1st October, at St. Bede's Church, Semaphore, by the Rev. G. Griffiths, George Lionel Throssell, of Northam, West Australia, to Isabel Roberta Cottrell, elder daughter of Robert Cottrell, Perth, West Australia.