Pharez Phillips

Pharez Phillips (22 November 1855 – 9 August 1914) was an Australian businessman and politician.^[1] He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1901 to 1906, representing the Victorian seat of Wimmera. He had earlier served in the Victorian Legislative Council from 1896 to 1901.

The Honourable Pharez Phillips
Member of the Australian Parliament for Wimmera
In office 29 March 1901 – 8 November 1906
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Sydney Sampson
Personal details
Born	(1855-11-22)22 November 1855 Mount Blackwood, Victoria
Died	9 August 1914(1914-08-09) (aged 58) Ayr, Scotland
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Protectionist Party
Occupation	Farmer

Biography

Phillips was born on 22 November 1855 in Mount Blackwood, Victoria.^[2] He was of Jewish background.^[3]

Phillips was educated at Grenville College in Ballarat before becoming a shopkeeper, farmer, and St Arnaud Town Councillor where he was three times president.^[1] He was a notable community leader in the Wimmera area. In 1896, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for North Western Province,^[1] and was made an Honorary Minister in 1900. He resigned this position in 1901 in order to contest the first federal election, winning the Australian House of Representatives seat of Wimmera for the Protectionist Party.^[4] He held the seat until his retirement in 1906. Phillips died in 1914 in Ayr, Scotland.^[1]

Personal life

Phillips died on 9 August 1914 in Ayr, Scotland, aged 58.^[2] His estate was valued for probate at nearly £36,000 (equivalent to $4,200,000 in 2022).^[5]