10 Facts About Alec Thomson

Alexander Thomson, known as Alec Thomson, was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1914 until 1930 representing the seat of Katanning, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council representing the South Province from 1931 until 1950.

Alec Thomson's mother died when he was very young, and the family moved to Melbourne, where he attended Essendon Primary School until the age of 14.

Alec Thomson was apprenticed to his father in the carpentry trade before working in several Victorian towns.

In 1895, Alec Thomson came to Western Australia, working as a journeyman at Fremantle before establishing a business there.

Alec Thomson worked at Buckland Hill and served as a councillor on the Buckland Hill Road Board from 1903 until 1905, before moving to the town of Katanning where he opened a timber and hardware store known as Thomson and Melany.

At the 1914 state election, Alec Thomson was elected under the Liberal Party banner to the seat of Katanning.

Alec Thomson led the three-member Executive Country Party to the 1924 election, where most of the Majority faction lost their seats.

Alec Thomson became leader of a reunited Country Party and led it until being defeated in his own seat by Arnold Piesse, an unendorsed Country Party candidate, at the 1930 election.

Alec Thomson stood for and won a by-election for one of the South-East Province seats in the Western Australian Legislative Council on 26 September 1931 following the death of Hector Stewart, which he retained until his retirement at the 1950 Legislative Council election, at which his son, Jack Thomson, succeeded him.

Alec Thomson died at home on 18 November 1953, aged 80, and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.