George Throssell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Throssell
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| 2nd Premier of Western Australia | |
| In office 15 February – 27 May 1901 |
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| Monarch | Edward VII |
| Governor | Sir Gerard Smith Sir Arthur Lawley |
| Preceded by | Sir John Forrest |
| Succeeded by | George Leake |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia |
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| In office 2 December 1890 – 28 June 1904 |
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| Preceded by | None (new creation) |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Watts |
| Constituency | Northam |
| Member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia |
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| In office 12 August 1907 – 30 August 1910 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Dempster |
| Succeeded by | Warren Marwick |
| Constituency | East Province |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 May 1840 Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, UK |
| Died | 30 August 1910 (aged 70) Northam, Western Australia, Australia |
| Spouse | Ann Morrell |
George Lionel Throssell (23 May 1840 – 30 August 1910) was an important leader in Western Australia. He became the second Premier of Western Australia, serving for a short time from February to May 1901. He was also a successful businessman and a strong voice for his local community.
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Early Life and Moving to Australia
George Throssell was born in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, on 23 May 1840. When he was ten years old, he moved to Western Australia with his parents. They traveled on a ship called the Scindian in 1850. George went to school in Perth.
Building a Business and Community Spirit
After finishing school, George Throssell started his own business in Northam in 1861. He sold farm products and called his company "Geo. Throssell & Co." He also worked as the Northam postmaster for ten years.
George was very good at business. He eventually owned a flour mill, several farms, and a group of shops. Later, his son Lionel joined the business, and it became "Throssell & Son." Another partner, W. J. Stewart, joined later, and the company was renamed "Throssell, Son & Stewart."
George Throssell was very active in his community. He was elected to the Northam Municipal Council in 1880 and served as its chairman multiple times. He also became the Mayor of Northam for several years. People in Northam knew him well and even called him "the lion of Northam" because he was such a strong leader.
A Career in Western Australian Politics
In 1890, George Throssell was elected to the Legislative Assembly, which is like a state parliament. He represented the area of Northam.
In 1897, he joined the government led by Sir John Forrest. George became the Commissioner of Crown Lands. This was a very important job because Western Australia was growing quickly, and managing land was key.
When Sir John Forrest decided to join the federal parliament, George Throssell took over as Premier of Western Australia on 15 February 1901. He also became the Treasurer, managing the state's money. However, his time as Premier was short. After an election in April, his political group did not win enough seats. George Throssell resigned as Premier on 27 May 1901.
Even after stepping down as Premier, he continued to serve as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Northam. He did not run in the 1904 election due to health reasons. However, he returned to parliament in 1907. He won a special election to become a member of the Legislative Council, representing the East Province, which included Northam. He served in this role until he passed away on 30 August 1910.
Family Life
George Throssell married Annie Morrell in 1861. They had at least twelve children together. One of his sons was Captain Hugo Throssell, who later became famous for his bravery and received the Victoria Cross (VC) medal.
In 1901, George Throssell was honored with the title of Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his public service.
