32 Facts About Pat Morton

Philip Henry Morton was an Australian businessman and politician.

Pat Morton then entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 3 May 1947, representing the Electoral district of Mosman for the Liberal Party.

Pat Morton soon rose through the party ranks, becoming touted as a possible leader.

Pat Morton then stood, but was deadlocked against party whip, Robert Askin, and Askin then asked Murray Robson to take the leadership.

Robson proved ineffective and was deposed in September 1955 in a party spill and Pat Morton was elected to succeed him as Leader of the New South Wales Opposition.

Pat Morton contested as Leader the 1956 and 1959 elections, gaining seats each time but failing to defeat the long-standing Labor Government.

Pat Morton remained on the backbenches until Askin led the Liberal Party to its first electoral victory in May 1965, whereupon Morton was appointed as the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Highways.

Pat Morton served in the cabinet, becoming prominent and controversial in his role in the reorganisation of the City of Sydney as Local Government Minister and state planning regulations, until he retired from parliament in June 1972.

Pat Morton was born on 28 October 1910 in Lismore, New South Wales, the son of Arthur Richmond Morton and Maria Morton.

Pat Morton's grandfather, Henry Gordon Pat Morton, born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1828, arrived in Australia in 1852 and was a surveyor for the Berry Estate and the first Mayor of Numbaa, the private town founded by Alexander Berry.

Pat Morton was educated at Lismore High School, which he left at the age of 14 to be employed in a law firm, but had a varied career in many different businesses.

Pat Morton moved to Mosman, New South Wales, where he was elected to the Mosman Municipal Council in December 1944 as an Alderman, rising to become Mayor in 1946.

Pat Morton soon joined the NSW Branch under party Leader Vernon Treatt and stood for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Mosman at the state election on 3 May 1947.

Pat Morton finished his term on Mosman Municipal Council in 1951.

The resignation split the party and sparked a leadership challenge from Pat Morton, who criticised Treatt's "lack of aggression" towards the Labor Government.

At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Pat Morton, Askin persuaded Murray Robson to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.

Pat Morton ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with Michael Bruxner's Country Party.

Robson then moved a motion to prevent Pat Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership.

Pat Morton himself vowed to invest in public works, education and health.

Pat Morton again led the opposition at the 21 March 1959 election, which resulted in an overall gain of three seats but the loss of Sutherland and Parramatta to Labor.

Pat Morton's leadership was further undermined when in April 1959, Liberal backbench MP for Manly, Douglas Darby, challenged Pat Morton for the leadership.

At the party meeting, Pat Morton was removed as leader by two votes.

Unlike Robson, Pat Morton accepted his loss well, declaring that there would be "no recriminations" and pledging loyalty to Askin.

Pat Morton would have done better by directing his blows to a few vital points instead of trying to hit at anything in sight.

However, the sad truth is that the genial Mr Pat Morton has never measured up as a sagacious, inspiring leader.

Pat Morton was succeeded by Jack Renshaw, whose tenure was perceived to be the last days of a party which, after almost a quarter of a century in government, was tired.

On its abolition, Pat Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.

Pat Morton soon gained a reputation as a strong advocate for allowing free enterprise and business to take precedence over planning controls and government regulation.

Pat Morton stayed in office for another year when, on 16 June 1972 he retired from politics.

On his retirement, Pat Morton was appointed as a Trustee of the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales, becoming chairman in 1976.

Pat Morton died on 18 January 1999 at his Mosman home, survived by his eldest daughter, Patricia.

Pat Morton's funeral was held at St Luke's Anglican Church, Mosman, on 22 January 1999.