19 Facts About John Estell

John Estell was a politician and coal miner in New South Wales, Australia.

John Estell was a member of the New South Wales Parliament for 29 years, including 20 years in the Legislative Assembly.

John Estell was a minister in the Holman, Storey and Dooley Labor governments.

John Estell was the son of a coal-miner and was educated to elementary level at Rydal, Wallerawang and Bathurst public schools.

John Estell was an office-holder in the Colliery Employees Federation from 1894.

John Estell was an elected alderman on the Plattsburg Municipal Council from 1888 till 1901, serving as mayor in 1891,1897 and 1899.

The Wallsend Protection and Labour League was formed in 1891 and John Estell was the president of the league.

John Estell sought pre-selection to be the Labour candidate for the Legislative Assembly seat of Wallsend at the 1894 election, but was defeated by David Watkins.

On 8 April 1899, during the premiership of George Reid, John Estell was appointed a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, taking his seat on 11 April 1899.

Watkins resigned in 1901 to successfully contest the first election for the federal division of Newcastle, and John Estell resigned from the Legislative Council to successfully contest the 1901 election for Wallsend.

John Estell was pre-selected as the Labour candidate for Waratah, easily winning it at the 1904 election, retaining the seat in 1907 and 1910.

John Estell was the Labor whip from 1904 until April 1914 when he was appointed the Minister for Labour and Industry in the Holman Labor ministry, adding the portfolio of Minister for Mines from March 1915.

John Estell opposed conscription in World War I and during the Labor split over the issue, he remained loyal to the party, resigning from the ministry on 31 Oct 1916 due to a report that Holman would enter into a coalition with the Liberal Reform Party.

John Estell stated that he would not agree to direct association with his political opponents of a lifetime.

John Estell was elected third of the five members for the seat of Newcastle.

John Estell resigned from the Assembly on 13 February 1922 and was appointed to the Legislative Council the following day, taking his seat on 11 April 1899 and serving until his death.

John Estell did not hold any further parliamentary or ministerial office.

John Estell married Alleshia Jane Kirk on 10 September 1885 and they had 8 children, 3 daughters and 5 sons.

John Estell died at Hamilton on 18 October 1928, survived by his wife Alicia, 3 daughters and 3 sons.