George Throssell, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection

The Hon. George Throssell, CMG (23 May 1840 - 30 August 1910) was the second Premier of Western Australia. He served for just three months, from 15 February 1901 until 27 May 1901 during a period of great instability in Western Australian politics.

George Throssell was born at Fermoy, County Cork in Ireland on 23 May 1840. He came to Western Australia in 1850 with his father. He began his own business as a produce merchant in the town of Northam in 1861 and served as the Northam postmaster from 1864 to 1874. Throssell became owner of a flour mill, farms and a chain of shops, and was active in the Northam community. He was first elected to the Northam Municipal Council in 1880, of which he was Chairman for a number of years until 1887. He subsequently served as Mayor of Northam for broken periods until 1894. Throssell was popularly known as "the lion of Northam", and was Northam's first citizen in 1890 when was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the seat of Northam.

In 1897 Throssell joined Sir John Forrest's government as Commissioner of Crown Lands, a key responsibility in a rapidly developing colony. When Forrest resigned as premier to join the federal parliament, Throssell took over as premier and treasurer on 15 February 1901. However, in the election of the following April, the "ministerialists" or former Forrest supporters failed to attain a majority of seats. On 27 May Throssell resigned as premier and as the leader of his group, but continued as MLA for Northam. He did not contest the 1904 election for health reasons, but returned to parliament in 1907 as a member of the Legislative Council (MLC) for East Province, the province that included Northam. He served until his death on 30 August 1910.

George Throssell married Annie Morrell in 1861, and was the father of at least twelve children. One of his sons, Hugo Throssell, won the Victoria Cross at Gallipoli in 1915. He was created a CMG in 1901.

References

• Reid, G. S. and M. R. Oliver (1982). The Premiers of Western Australia 1890–1982. University of Western Australia Press. Nedlands, Western Australia. ISBN 0855642149.
• Serle, Percival (1949). Dictionary of Australian Biography (http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/00-dict-biogIndex.html). Angus and Robertson. Sydney.
• The Constitution Centre of Western Australia (2002). Governors and Premiers of Western Australia (http://www.ccentre.wa.gov.au/html/prems_govenors/first.html). West Perth, Western Australia. ISBN 0-7307-3821-3.