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Former Member Details

Mr Arthur MACALISTER (1818 - 1883)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 01/01/1818
Place of Birth: Glasgow, Scotland
Date of Death: 23/03/1883
Place of Death: Glasgow, Scotland
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
St Andrew’s College Bill Committee No.24 14 Oct 1859 04 Jul 1860 8 months 21 days
Member for Ipswich 14 Jun 1859 10 Dec 1859 5 months 27 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 14 Jun 1859 10 Dec 1859 5 months 27 days
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Commissioner for Queensland, Philadelphia International Exhibition in 1876. Chairman of Board of Education from 1862 until 1867; Founding trustee of Ipswich Grammar. Member of Caledonian and Prince of Wales Lodges. President of Caledonian Society.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (solicitor). Educated in Glasgow. Qualified as a writer to the signet. Arrived in Sydney on the 'Abbotsford' on 28 September 1839; Clerk of Petty Sessions and postmaster at Scone from 1840 until 1841. Opened a general store and became bankrupt by 1842. Admitted as a solicitor in in 1850. Commenced a practice in Ipswich. Agent general for Queensland. Freemason.
Military Service
Honours Received
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 1875.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Member of the Parliament of Queensland. Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Ipswich 1860 - 1858; Eastern Downs 1868 - 1871; and Ipswich 1872 - 1876. Chairman of Committees 1860 - 1861; Secretary for Lands and Public Works 1862 - 1866 and 1868 - 1869; Colonial Secretary 1866 - 1867 and 1874 - 1876; Secretary for Public Works and Goldfields 1869 - 1870; Secretary for Public Works and Mines 1874; Speaker 1870 - 1871; and Premier 1866 - 1867 and 1874 - 1876.
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of John Macalister, cabinet maker and Mary Scoular. Married Elizabeth Wallace Tassie in Edinburgh, Scotland and had issue, 9 children. Presbyterian. Nicknamed "Slippery Mac".
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5.

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.