18 Facts About Archibald Peake

Archibald Henry Peake was an Australian politician.

Archibald Peake was Premier of South Australia on three occasions: from 1909 to 1910 for the Liberal and Democratic Union, and from 1912 to 1915 and 1917 to 1920 for its successor, the Liberal Union.

Archibald Peake had been Treasurer and Attorney-General in the Price-Peake coalition government from 1905 to 1909.

Archibald Peake was educated at state schools under his father, but in later life widened his education by studying in English history and literature.

Archibald Peake entered the service of the District Council of Naracoorte, became district clerk in 1878.

Archibald Peake resigned his position as district clerk when he entered politics, and afterward was in business at Mount Barker as a member of the firm of auctioneers, Monks and Peake.

Archibald Peake was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly as the Member for Albert representing Naracoorte.

Archibald Peake became disillusioned with the Government of John Jenkins leading him to become leader of a group of 15 members under the Liberal banner.

Archibald Peake was elected as one of three members for the new seat of Victoria and Albert in May 1902, he held this seat until March 1915.

At the 1905 election Archibald Peake sought a Liberal-Labor alliance: 'the only difference between us is a difference of degree and of speed'.

Archibald Peake's group entered into a coalition with the Labor minority government of Thomas Price, the Price-Archibald Peake administration, holding the positions of Treasurer of South Australia and Attorney-General of South Australia.

Archibald Peake had formed the Liberal and Democratic Union which had a network of branches in 1906.

Archibald Peake refused and was able to form a Government which lasted for a year.

Archibald Peake was elected as Premier at the 1912 election as Verran's Government had been unable to deal with a number of significant industrial disputes.

Archibald Peake's Government created the Industrial arbitration court which established a minimum wage for state awards but limited the right to strike.

Archibald Peake was a teetotaller Presbyterian who held a plebiscite establishing six o'clock closing for hotels in 1915 which became the law in South Australia for the next fifty years.

Archibald Peake lost to the Labor Party under Crawford Vaughan at the 1915 election and lost his seat.

Archibald Peake became Premier of a coalition government of Liberal Union and National Labor members.