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Sir John LACKEY (1830 - 1903)

Date of Birth: 06/10/1830 Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 11/11/1903 Place of Death: Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Parliament Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 8 Dec 1860 30 Aug 1885 24yr(s) 8mth(s) 23day(s) Member of the NSW Legislative Council 8 Sep 1885 11 Nov 1903 18yr(s) 2mth(s) 4day(s) Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 31 August 1885 Member for Parramatta 8 Dec 1860 10 Nov 1864 3yr(s) 11mth(s) 3day(s) 4th (1860 - 1864) Member for Central Cumberland 27 Jun 1867 15 Nov 1869 2yr(s) 4mth(s) 20day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for Central Cumberland 28 Dec 1869 3 Feb 1872 2yr(s) 1mth(s) 7day(s) 6th (1870 - 1872) Member for Central Cumberland 22 Feb 1872 28 Nov 1874 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 7day(s) 7th (1872 - 1874) Member for Central Cumberland 8 Jan 1875 9 Feb 1875 1mth(s) 2day(s) 8th (1875 - 1877) Member for Central Cumberland 18 Feb 1875 17 Aug 1877 2yr(s) 6mth(s) 8th (1875 - 1877) Member for Central Cumberland 31 Aug 1877 12 Oct 1877 1mth(s) 12day(s) 8th (1875 - 1877) Member for Central Cumberland 26 Oct 1877 20 Dec 1878 1yr(s) 1mth(s) 25day(s) 9th (1877 - 1880) Member for Central Cumberland 31 Dec 1878 9 Nov 1880 1yr(s) 10mth(s) 10day(s) 9th (1877 - 1880) Member for Central Cumberland 22 Nov 1880 23 Nov 1882 2yr(s) 2day(s) 10th (1880 - 1882) Member for Central Cumberland 5 Dec 1882 30 Aug 1885 2yr(s) 8mth(s) 26day(s) 11th (1882 - 1885) Chairman of Committees 2 Feb 1870 13 Aug 1872 2yr(s) 6mth(s) 12day(s) Secretary for Public Works 9 Feb 1875 21 Mar 1877 2yr(s) 1mth(s) 13day(s) Minister of Justice and Public Instruction 17 Aug 1877 17 Dec 1877 4mth(s) 1day(s) Secretary for Public Works 21 Dec 1878 4 Jan 1883 4yr(s) 15day(s) Vice President of Executive Council 17 Jan 1889 7 Mar 1889 1mth(s) 19day(s) President of the Legislative Council 26 Jan 1892 23 May 1903 11yr(s) 3mth(s) 28day(s) State and Management of the Sydney Domain Committee No.20 19 Feb 1861 20 Jan 1862 11mths 2days 4th (1860 - 1864) Reverend W.B Clarke Committee No.6 20 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4mths 1day 4th (1860 - 1864) Mr F.W Birmingham Committee No.10 1 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Dr F.Beer Committee No.15 22 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 2mths 30days 4th (1860 - 1864) Osborne Wallsend Coal Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.20 26 Nov 1861 6 Dec 1861 11days 4th (1860 - 1864) Field of Mars Common Committee No.22 31 Dec 1861 20 Jan 1862 21days 4th (1860 - 1864) Bellambi and Bulli Coal Mining Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.23 3 Jan 1862 7 Jan 1862 5days 4th (1860 - 1864) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 27 May 1862 27 May 1862 1day 4th (1860 - 1864) Field of Mars Common Committee No.5 3 Jun 1862 26 Sep 1862 3mths 24days 4th (1860 - 1864) Newcastle Church Land Sale Bill Committee No.21 5 Aug 1862 29 Aug 1862 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Mr Charles Phillips Lawrence Committee No.19 5 Aug 1862 29 Oct 1862 2mths 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Gibson’s Estate Bill Committee No.27 2 Sep 1862 4 Sep 1862 3days 4th (1860 - 1864) Petition of Thomas Duke Allen Committee No.43 19 Nov 1862 19 Dec 1862 1mth 1day 4th (1860 - 1864) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 23 Jun 1863 23 Jun 1863 1day 4th (1860 - 1864) Petition of Thomas Duke Allen Committee No.11 21 Jul 1863 8 Dec 1863 4mths 18days 4th (1860 - 1864) Claims of Tenants of the Crown Committee No.35 15 Mar 1864 20 Apr 1864 1mth 6days 4th (1860 - 1864) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 18 Oct 1864 18 Oct 1864 1day 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Petition of Thomas Larkin Committee No.13 27 Sep 1867 21 Apr 1868 6mths 26days 5th (1865 - 1869) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.17 22 Nov 1867 1 Apr 1868 4mths 11days 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman Removal of Mr Rowland Hassall from the Commission of the Peace Committee No.24 16 Mar 1868 18 Mar 1868 3days 5th (1865 - 1869) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 13 Oct 1868 13 Oct 1868 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman Diseases in Grape-vines Prevention Bill Committee No.16 12 Feb 1869 19 Mar 1869 1mth 8days 5th (1865 - 1869) Grant for Road from West Maitland to Cessnock Committee No.9 8 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 6days 5th (1865 - 1869) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.8 8 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 6days 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman Cumberland and Camden Bathurst – bur and thistle Bill Committee No.11 22 Oct 1869 12 Nov 1869 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Railway Extension Committee No.15 28 Oct 1869 11 Nov 1869 15days 5th (1865 - 1869) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 2 Feb 1870 9 Mar 1870 1mth 8days 6th (1870 - 1872) Bathurst-burr and Thistle Plants Committee No.12 25 Feb 1870 6 Apr 1870 1mth 13days 6th (1870 - 1872) Sale of Liquors Licensing Act Amendment Bill Committee No.21 1 Apr 1870 3 May 1870 1mth 3days 6th (1870 - 1872) Claims of Bartholomew Rush Committee No.24 12 Apr 1870 7 May 1870 26days 6th (1870 - 1872) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.7 25 Aug 1870 23 Sep 1870 30days 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Camperdown Cemetery Trust Bill Committee No.17 21 Feb 1871 2 Mar 1871 10days 6th (1870 - 1872) Standing Orders Committee No.3 15 Nov 1871 1 Feb 1872 2mths 18days 6th (1870 - 1872) Parramatta Gas Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.8 7 Dec 1871 14 Dec 1871 8days 6th (1870 - 1872) Loder’s Estate Bill Committee No.9 8 Dec 1871 1 Feb 1872 1mth 25days 6th (1870 - 1872) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 2 May 1872 2 May 1872 1day 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Standing Orders Committee No.4 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2mths 2days 6th (1870 - 1872) Parramatta Gas Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.6 14 Jun 1872 20 Jun 1872 7days 6th (1870 - 1872) Bathurst Gas Bill Committee No.7 14 Jun 1872 21 Jun 1872 8days 6th (1870 - 1872) The Petersham Church Grant Bill Committee No.8 20 Jun 1872 25 Jul 1872 1mth 6days 6th (1870 - 1872) Loder’s Estate Bill Committee No.9 25 Jun 1872 11 Jul 1872 17days 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 5 Nov 1872 25 Apr 1873 5mths 21days 7th (1872 - 1874) Standing Orders Committee No.4 6 Nov 1872 25 Apr 1873 5mths 20days 7th (1872 - 1874) Loder's Estate Bill Committee No.8 14 Nov 1872 12 Dec 1872 29days 7th (1872 - 1874) Chairman Petersham Church Grant Bill Committee No.9 14 Nov 1872 15 Jan 1873 2mths 2days 7th (1872 - 1874) Telegraphic Communication Committee No.17 17 Dec 1872 24 Apr 1873 4mths 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Prince Alfred Hospital Bill Committee No.18 19 Dec 1872 31 Jan 1873 1mth 13days 7th (1872 - 1874) Petition of George Bell Committee No.19 20 Dec 1872 25 Apr 1873 4mths 6days 7th (1872 - 1874) Bowenfels Coal Mining and Cooper Smelting Company’s Railway Bill Committee No.23 7 Feb 1873 11 Feb 1873 5days 7th (1872 - 1874) Bathurst Cattle Sale Yards Bill Committee No.24 7 Feb 1873 14 Mar 1873 1mth 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Petition of James Twaddell Committee No.28 4 Mar 1873 17 Mar 1873 14days 7th (1872 - 1874) Standing Orders Committee No.3 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9mths 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Library Committee No.2 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9mths 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 11 Sep 1873 24 Jun 1874 9mths 14days 7th (1872 - 1874) Australian Jockey Club Bill Committee No.8 1 Oct 1873 8 Oct 1873 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Lithgow Valley Colliery Railway Bill Committee No.12 14 Oct 1873 15 Oct 1873 2days 7th (1872 - 1874) Chairman Lee’s Partition and Sale Bill Committee No:16 18 Nov 1873 25 Nov 1873 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Bishopthorpe Estate Bill Committee No.20 2 Dec 1873 17 Dec 1873 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Chairman Greta Coal and Shale Mining Company’s Bill Committee No.21 14 Jan 1874 22 Jan 1874 9days 7th (1872 - 1874) Parnell’s Leasing Bill Committee No.25 22 Jan 1874 29 Jan 1874 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 4 Nov 1874 26 Nov 1874 23days 7th (1872 - 1874) Standing Orders Committee No.3 4 Nov 1874 26 Nov 1874 23days 7th (1872 - 1874) Library Committee No.2 4 Nov 1874 26 Nov 1874 23days 7th (1872 - 1874) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 28 Jan 1875 28 Jan 1875 1day 8th (1875 - 1877) Standing Orders Committee No.4 31 Mar 1875 11 Aug 1875 4mths 12days 8th (1875 - 1877) Waratah Coal Company’s Bill Committee No.6 2 Apr 1875 13 Apr 1875 12days 8th (1875 - 1877) Petition of Messrs. Blomfield and Munford Committee No.9 20 Apr 1875 11 Aug 1875 3mths 23days 8th (1875 - 1877) Letter addressed to M.M Rochefort and Grousset Committee No.12 4 May 1875 1 Jun 1875 29days 8th (1875 - 1877) Petition of Amos Davis Committee No.13 7 May 1875 10 Aug 1875 3mths 4days 8th (1875 - 1877) Removal of Public Money from Bank of New South Wales Committee No.14 11 May 1875 22 Jun 1875 1mth 12days 8th (1875 - 1877) Australasia Coal Company’s Bill Committee No.16 10 Jun 1875 7 Jul 1875 28days 8th (1875 - 1877) Petition of Mr Stephen Stanbridge Committee No.17 30 Jun 1875 28 Jul 1875 29days 8th (1875 - 1877) Blakefield v. Shields Committee No.18 13 Jul 1875 4 Aug 1875 23days 8th (1875 - 1877) Standing Orders Committee No.3 18 Nov 1875 22 Aug 1876 9mths 5days 8th (1875 - 1877) Fitzgerald’s Enabling Bill Committee No.8 1 Dec 1875 14 Dec 1875 14days 8th (1875 - 1877) Supply of Coal for Railway Purposes Committee No.16 29 Feb 1876 30 Jun 1876 4mths 2days 8th (1875 - 1877) The Case of Alfred Arnold Committee No.24 16 May 1876 27 Jun 1876 1mth 12days 8th (1875 - 1877) Standing Orders Committee No.3 14 Dec 1876 11 Oct 1877 9mths 28days 8th (1875 - 1877) Condition of the Aborigines Committee No.7 19 Dec 1876 11 Oct 1877 9mths 23days 8th (1875 - 1877) Orange Gas-Light Bill Committee No.11 21 Dec 1876 11 Jan 1877 22days 8th (1875 - 1877) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 30 Nov 1877 31 Jan 1878 2mths 2days 9th (1877 - 1880) Metropolitan Cattle Sale Yards Committee No.13 12 Feb 1878 20 Mar 1878 1mth 9days 9th (1877 - 1880) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.8 11 Sep 1878 27 Sep 1878 17days 9th (1877 - 1880) Primitive Methodist Church Temporalities Bill Committee No.17 1 Nov 1878 14 Nov 1878 14days 9th (1877 - 1880) Mudgee Turf Club Bill Committee No.20 20 Nov 1878 26 Feb 1879 3mths 7days 9th (1877 - 1880) Address of Condolence with Her Majesty The Queen Committee No.21 17 Dec 1878 17 Dec 1878 1day 9th (1877 - 1880) Valedictory Address to His Excellency the Governor Committee No.24 13 Mar 1879 13 Mar 1879 1day 9th (1877 - 1880) Railway through the City of Sydney Committee No.5 30 Oct 1879 13 Jul 1880 8mths 14days 9th (1877 - 1880) Chairman Joadja Creek Railway Bill Committee No.13 3 Dec 1879 17 Dec 1879 15days 9th (1877 - 1880) Sydney City and Suburban Tramway and Omnibus Company’s Bill Committee No.14 16 Dec 1879 26 Feb 1880 2mths 11days 9th (1877 - 1880) Bridge over the Parramatta River Committee No.17 10 Feb 1880 13 Jul 1880 5mths 4days 9th (1877 - 1880) Dismissal of Mr Daniels, Railway Trial Surveyor Committee No.21 16 Apr 1880 13 Jul 1880 2mths 28days 9th (1877 - 1880) Mount Kembla Coal and Oil Company’s Railway Bill Committee No.9 25 Jan 1881 28 Jan 1881 4days 10th (1880 - 1882) Jeanneret’s Tramway Bill Committee No.17 18 Mar 1881 29 Mar 1881 12days 10th (1880 - 1882) Victorian Coal Mining Company’s Bill Committee No.38 26 Feb 1884 25 Apr 1884 2mths 11th (1882 - 1885) Victorian Coal-mining Company’s Bill (No2) Committee No.45 30 Apr 1884 10 Jun 1884 1mth 12days 11th (1882 - 1885)

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Pastoralist. Educated at John Eyre's school, John Mills' Aldine House, and W.T. Cape's College. Toll collector at Lansdowne Bridge 1849. Bought land near Concord 1853; pastoralist in the Parramatta district. In 1860s took over hotel and adjoining land on Dog Trap Road, Granville; established farm and vineyard. Acquired stations West of Peak Downs, Queensland. Sold farm at Granville late 1870s and moved to Austermere near Bong Bong In 1880s bought Buckwaroon, 108,000 acres near Cobar; acquired adjoining Ampitheatre station, 174,000 acres, and Mereworth Estate, Moss Vale, 1891. Well known breeder of cattle and horses. Chairman of Sydney Meat Preserving Company in 1880s. President of Berrima District Agriculture, Horticultural and Industrial Society; on Committee Cumberland Agriculture Society. Foundation member of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, becoming trustee, treasurer and vice-president in 1860s. Steward and treasurers of Parramatta Turf Club; judge, handicapper and steward of the Australian Jockey Club; president of Bong Bong Picnic Race Club. Director of Berrima District Cottage Hospital President Centennial Celebration Commission in 1888. Member Union Club from 1869; President, Vice-President Warrigal Club, Sydney. Author of History of Horses, 1873.

Honours Received

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1852; Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) 1894.

Personal

Son of William Lackey, ticket-of-leave man and bailiff, afterwards publican and estate manager, and Mary O'Dowd. Married Martha Anne Drummond on 21 August 1851 at Concord, and had issue, 2 sons and l daughter, 7 stepchildren. Church of England.

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5 Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995

John Lackey was born on 6 October 1830 in Sydney. He married the widowed Martha Drummond (who already had seven children) on 21 August 1851 and they had two sons and one daughter. At various stage in his life John Lackey had bought several large tracts of land at Concord, Moss Vale, Cobar and throughout the Parramatta district. In the 1860s he took over a hotel and the adjoining land on Dog Trap Road, Granville, where he established a farm and vineyard. A successful horse breeder, Lackey's love of horses and racing led to an important involvement in the planning and development of Randwick racecourse. Lackey was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Parramatta from 1860 until 1864, and he held the seat of Central Cumberland for eighteen years from 1867 until 1885. An advocate of land reform, he gladly lent his support to the Robertson Land Acts which promoted free selection before land survey. As Chairman of Committees from 1870 until 1872, Secretary for Public Works from 1875 until 1877 and again from 1878 until 1883 and Minister for Public Instruction for four months in 1877, he developed a reputation for great calmness and courtesy. Consequently he was one of a few Members never called to order. Lackey took an active role in the drive for growth and development by instigating a number of bills that eventually resulted in the construction of several colonial railways. He also suggested that the growing demand for water in Sydney be met by the Nepean River. Resigning from the Legislative Assembly in 1885, Lackey was immediately nominated to the Legislative Council. As one of those responsible for the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works he was the obvious choice to chair the Committee on its inception in 1888; in 1889 he became Vice President of the Executive Council during the Dibbs Ministry. He was appointed to the office of President of the Legislative Council in 1892, resigning in 1903. He remained a Member until his death six months later on 11 November 1903 at Moss Vale.

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