21 Facts About Thomas Bent

Sir Thomas Bent was an Australian politician and the 22nd premier of Victoria.

Thomas Bent came to Melbourne with his parents in 1849.

Thomas Bent went to school in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, later becoming a market-gardener in Brighton East.

Thomas Bent soon began buying and selling land in Brighton, and became a property developer in new areas fairly close by, such as Moorabbin.

Thomas Bent developed a major new subdivision of Bentleigh, later named after himself, on the other side of Nepean Highway opposite Brighton.

In 1871 Thomas Bent was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the district of Brighton, defeating the veteran liberal George Higinbotham "to the amazement of every one".

Thomas Bent had no particular party loyalties and first held office in the Service government in 1880.

The exposure of Thomas Bent's dealings led to the defeat of O'Loghlen's government at the 1883 elections.

Thomas Bent was the first Victorian premier with a strong Australian accent, and was held in contempt by the Anglo-Scottish Melbourne establishment.

Thomas Bent had transferred many of his assets to his wife's name and this saved him from bankruptcy.

At the election which followed the fall of James Patterson's government, Thomas Bent was defeated at Brighton.

Thomas Bent's fate was sealed when The Age published letters Bent had written as Railways Minister in 1881, offering MPs railways lines in their electorates in exchange for their votes.

Thomas Bent moved with his wife Elizabeth and their two daughters to Port Fairy, where he took up dairy farming.

Thomas Bent completed his comeback by becoming Minister for Railways in William Irvine's conservative government.

Thomas Bent was up to his old tricks, buying land in Brighton and then approving a tramline from St Kilda to Brighton that led right past his properties.

Thomas Bent's government favoured more state intervention in the economy than had 19th-century liberal governments, and there was now agreement on the need for high tariffs to protect Victorian industry.

Thomas Bent died on 17 September 1909 at his home in Bay Street, Brighton.

Thomas Bent had been made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1908.

Thomas Bent was given a state funeral and buried in Brighton Cemetery.

Thomas Bent was married twice, to Hannah Hall and to Elizabeth Huntley.

For many years "Tommy Thomas Bent's statue" was a well-known Melbourne landmark, which, at the time of the Victorian Football League grand final, would be decorated with a cap and scarf in the colours of the team that won the premiership.