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Former Member Details

Sir James Anderson MURDOCH, K.B.E.,C.M.G (1867 - 1939)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 01/01/1867
Place of Birth: Edinburgh, Scotland
Date of Death: 30/01/1939
Place of Death: Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 07 Aug 1923 22 Apr 1934 10 years 8 months 16 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 3 August 1923
Political Party Activity
National Party.
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Retail trader. Educated at Adair's and Herriot's schools in Edinburgh; entered woollen warehouse of George Barclay and Sons; arrived in Melbourne in 1884 and was employed in a warehouse, at a later time in Brisbane; established a Sydney mercery business in 1893, becoming a large retailer, chairman of Murdoch's Limited and Murdoch's Manufactures Limited, director of Arthur Richard and Company (Extended) Limited, Commonwealth General Assurance Corporation Limited in 1926, Melbourne Hotels Limited, Standard Portland Cenment Company Limited in 1930, Linoleum Holdings Limited in 1938, National Studios Limited in 1938; owned Berrima property; cattle breeder and racing stud; commissioner for Red Cross from 1915 until 1918, president of Master Retailers' Association; member of Employers Federation and of Chamber of Commerce; president of Citizens' Reform Association from 1922 until 1930; director of Sydney Hospital from 1921 until 1925; committee member of Australian Jockey Club; director of Burnside Homes from 1919 until 1939, chairman from 1927 until 1939, generous benefactor.
Military Service
Attached to Australian Army Medical Corps, lieutenant colonel, four times mentioned in despatches.
Honours Received
Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1918, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1928
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Thomas Murdoch, cabinetmaker, and Margaret Anderson. Married Isabella Binning in 1892 and had issue, 3 daughters. Presbyterian. Funeral at Northern Suburbs crematorium from St John's Presbyterian church in Wahroonga.
Additional Information