18 Facts About Edmund Jowett

Edmund Jowett was an Australian pastoralist and politician.

Edmund Jowett was born in England and arrived in Australia at the age of 18, eventually amassing vast pastoral holdings across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Edmund Jowett joined the Country Party upon its formation in 1920.

Edmund Jowett served as the party's inaugural deputy leader for just over one year, on a provisional basis under the leadership of William McWilliams.

Edmund Jowett was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, on 6 January 1858 to Joseph Edmund Jowett and Sarah, nee Craven.

Edmund Jowett attended Mr James Ward's Classical School at Clapham Common in London and went to his uncle's wool mill at Thornton.

Edmund Jowett migrated to Melbourne in Australia in 1876 with his father and elder brother Charles, where he worked on The Argus and contributed to the Australasian Banking Record.

Edmund Jowett married Annette Rose McCallum on 24 November 1883 at East St Kilda.

Edmund Jowett gradually accumulated property in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, eventually controlling more than forty properties including Palparara, Boorara and Kynuna Stations and owned over six million acres.

Edmund Jowett was appointed growers' representative on the Central Wool Committee in 1916, and served on the Commonwealth Bureau of Commerce and Industry and the Victorian Meat Advisory Committee.

Edmund Jowett was influenced as a young man by Sir Frederick Sargood; his early political activity consists of membership of the Young Victorian Patriotic League and campaigning for conscription.

On 25 February 1920, Edmund Jowett was elected unopposed as the inaugural deputy leader of the Country Party, with William McWilliams as leader.

Edmund Jowett did not re-contest the position when it was declared vacant on 5 April 1921, and was succeeded by Henry Gregory.

Edmund Jowett's seat was abolished in 1922, and he contested Bendigo instead, but was unsuccessful.

Edmund Jowett continued to be active in the Country Party.

An advocate of electoral reform and proportional representation, Edmund Jowett always encouraged the immigration of Britons to Australia.

Edmund Jowett produced a number of publications, and was a company director for some years.

Edmund Jowett was survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.