Mr James MacCallum (McCallum) Smith, MLA
- Position
- Member Centenary Committee
- Postnominals
- Member Legislative Assembly
- Committee group
- Publicity
- Year of death
- 1939
- Plaque number
- FA20
- Dedicated by
- Kings Park Board on 29 September 1929
- More information
Biography abstract:
James MacCallum (also recorded as McCallum) Smith (26/4/1868 - 6/8/1939) was born at Drumchardine, near Inverness, Scotland.
In 1884 he joined the staff of the 'Northern Chronicle' in Queensland. From 1888, Smith worked briefly on a country paper before moving to Sydney as manager of the 'Australian Mining Standard'.
After this, he moved to Coolgardie, Western Australia in 1893 and in partnership established three newspapers (1894-98). In 1898, in Kalgoorlie, he started a Sunday paper with somewhat radical issues.
In 1901, he invested with other in the 'Sunday Times' (which he sold to Victor Courtney and JJ Simons in 1935).
Smith became the Liberal member for North Perth in 1914. He was appointed by the Labor Government to present the case for secession to the Imperial Parliament in 1934.
James Mac Callum Smith was considered a pragmatic businessman of diverse interests.
He owned extensive pastoral and agricultural properties, was deputy chairman of the Western Australian Bank, director of finance, insurance, industrial and mining companies and president of the Scottish Union of WA for many years.
When he died in 1939, he left money to philanthropic, educational and cultural bodies, including a considerable sum for Mac Callum Smith chair of Veterinary Science at UWA.
The Hon. James Mac Callum Smith MLA was a member of the Western Australian Centenary Committee (Publicity group) in 1929.