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Former Member Details

Mr William BUSBY (1813 - 1887)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 15/01/1813
Place of Birth: England
Date of Death: 23/06/1887
Place of Death: Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 02 Jul 1867 23 Jun 1887 19 years 11 months 22 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act: Date of Writ of Summons 1 July 1867.
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace. Active in the Agricultural Society of New South Wales and an elected member of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales in 1875. Early member of the Australia Club.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Pastoralist. Employed by his father on the tunnel for Sydney's water supply. From 1834 was an overseer at £200 per annum. Became a pastoralist in 1837 after purchasing freehold estate near Cassilis with his brother Alexander (member of the Legislative Council from 20 May 1856 to 16 February 1858). By 1885, after his brother's death, Dalkeith the property near Cassilis comprised 42,000 acres which carried 17,000 sheep and was noted for being a horse stud. His estate was sworn in at over £106,000. Was a Director of the Mercantile Bank of Sydney.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Sixth son of John, a surveyor and civil engineer and Sarah. Arrived in New South Wales with his parents on 24 February 1824. Married Catherine Ann Woore on 20 December 1856 in Sydney and had issue 4 sons and 8 daughters. Was buried in St Jude's churchyard, Randwick.
Additional Information
References: Australian Dictionary of Biography, volume three; Ford's Sydney and Commercial Directory, Sydney 1851, pXXXII; Votes and Proceeedings of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, 1852, volume 2, p180. Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: Busby family - papers, 1826 - 1864 (FM 4/2116); 2. Kelman family - papers of the Busby and Kelman families, 1822 - 1879 (MLMSS 1183). 3. Dr George Busby - letters received, 1916 - 1832 (MLMSS 1019).