Hon John Waters Kirwan, MLC
- Position
- President Legislative Council
- Postnominals
- Member Legislative Council
- Committee group
- Country organisation
- Year of death
- 1954
- Plaque number
- FA36
- Dedicated by
- Kings Park Board on 29 September 1929
- More information
Biography abstract:
John Waters Kirwan (2/12/1869-9/9/1949) was born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in the 1889, and after working for several eastern states newspapers, he became editor of the 'Port Augusta Dispatch' in South Australia.
He came to Western Australia in 1895 attracted by the gold discoveries and set up partnership with the Hocking Bros. of the 'Western Argus' and 'Kalgoorlie Miner' newspapers. He took a definite but broad stance on issues through his newspapers.
In 1896 Kirwan had been appointed a justice of the peace and elected to represent Kalgoorlie (1901-03) in the first Federal Parliament where he was vigorous in pushing for a transcontinental railway, one which veered north from Esperance to Kalgoorlie.
In 1904 he had become the first Federal parliamentarian to have conferred on him for life the title of Honourable. He lost the next election and went to Europe for a few years before returning in 1905.
He was a member of the East Coolgardie Licensing Bench (1906-23) and in 1908 was persuaded to stand for Legislative Council for Southern Province. In 1927, Kirwan was elected president of the Legislative Council.
Throughout his long political career, John Kirwan was a staunch supporter of a vigorous immigration policy, naval and military defence and championed the construction of the east-west, north-south transcontinental railway.
He represented Western Australia several times at Imperial Press Conferences and was a member of the first senate of UWA (1912-1933). He was knighted in 1930 and appointed KCMG in 1947.
Hon. Sir John Kirwan MLC was a member of the Western Australian Centenary Committee (Country organisation) in 1929.