John Lucas (Australian politician)

John Lucas (24 June 1818 – 1 March 1902) was a builder and politician in colonial New South Wales, a member of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.^[1][2]

John Lucas
1875 engraving
Born	(1818-06-24)June 24, 1818 Camperdown
Died	1 March 1902(1902-03-01) (aged 83) Camperdown
Nationality	Australian

Early life

Lucas was born on 24 June 1818 at Kingston, part of Camperdown, to John Lucas, a miller and builder, and Mary née Rowley, a daughter of Thomas Rowley. He was educated at a Church of England school in Liverpool, and Captain Beveridge's boarding school.^[3] He left school to be apprenticed as a carpenter,^[1] the trade of his grandfather Nathaniel Lucas.^[4]

Political career

He first stood for the Legislative Assembly at the 1859 election for Canterbury, but was unsuccessful.^[5] He won the seat at the 1860 by-election, holding it at the 1860 general election. In December 1864 he was elected to both Canterbury,^[5] and Hartley,^[6] choosing to represent Hartley. He was defeated in an attempt to return to Canterbury at the election in December 1869.^[5] He regained a seat in the assembly at the 1871 Canterbury by-election,^[5] serving until his retirement in 1880. His only ministerial appointment was as Secretary for Mines in the third Robertson ministry from February 1875 until March 1877.^[2] He was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1880 and served until his death.^[2]

Personal life

He married Ann Sammons on 4 January 1841 at Singleton, and they had five children.^[1]

He was noted patron of the Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains^[7] where a cave and a tour have since been named in his honour.^[8] He also maintained a holiday cottage on Lapstone Hill at the Eastern edge of the Blue Mountains. On the original Lapstone Zig Zag a station was built for him and named Lucasville. The remains of the station are still visible today.

Lucas died at Camperdown on 1 March 1902(1902-03-01) (aged 83).^[1]

References

1. Rathbone, R W (1974). "Lucas, John (1818-1902)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
2. "Mr John Lucas (1818-1902)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
3. Mennell, Philip (1892). "Lucas, Hon. John" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
4. Herman, Morton (1967). "Lucas Nathaniel (1764-1818)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 2. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
5. Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Canterbury". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
6. Green, Antony. "1864-5 results Hartley". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
7. "John Lucas - Patron of the Jenolan Caves". jenolancaves.org.au. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009.
8. "The John Lucas Tour". jenolancaves.org.au. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009.

External links

• Photograph of John Lucas at the National Library of Australia https://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23460676

 

Political offices
Preceded by Robert Abbott	Secretary for Mines 1875 – 1877	Succeeded by George Lloyd
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Edward Flood	Member for Canterbury 1860 – 1865 With: Samuel Lyons / Edward Raper	Succeeded by James Pemell
Preceded by Henry Rotton	Member for Hartley 1864 – 1869	Succeeded by James Neale
Preceded by Montagu Stephen	Member for Canterbury 1871 – 1880 With: Richard Hill / Sir Henry Parkes	Succeeded by William Pigott William Henson