John McDonald (Victorian politician)
Sir John McDonald | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 37th Premier of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 June 1950 – 28 October 1952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Keith Dodgshun 1950–1952 Alexander Dennett 1952 Keith Dodgshun 1952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Thomas Hollway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Thomas Hollway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 31 October 1952 – 17 December 1952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Thomas Hollway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Cain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12th Deputy Premier of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 20 November 1947 – 3 December 1948 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier | Thomas Hollway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Frank Field | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wilfrid Kent Hughes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Premier | Albert Dunstan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Shepparton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 November 1945 – 1 April 1955 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Goulburn Valley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 September 1936 – 1 October 1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Councillor of the Shire of Shepparton for West Riding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1928–1929 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | John Gladstone Black McDonald 6 December 1898 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 23 April 1977 (aged 78) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Country Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Mary Cosser Trotter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Orchardist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Australian Imperial Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1916–1918 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | 37th Battalion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sir John Gladstone Black McDonald (6 December 1898 – 23 April 1977) was 37th Premier of Victoria (leading the Country Party) from 27 June 1950 to 17 December 1952, except for a few days in October 1952 when Thomas Hollway led a brief Electoral Reform League government. McDonald came to office by defeating Hollway's Liberals, but was himself vanquished by the Labor Party under John Cain in 1952.
McDonald was also Deputy Premier of Victoria from November 1947 to December 1948 under Premier Thomas Hollway.
McDonald was President of the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association from 1927 to 1933.
Early life
McDonald was born in Falkirk, Scotland, the son of a grocer, and was educated at Carmuirs School. After the death of his father, McDonald and his family emigrated to Australia in 1912 and settled in Shepparton, Victoria where they ran a dairy farm.[1]
On 4 March 1916, McDonald (who was 17 at the time) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I, in which he served with the 37th Battalion[2] on the Western Front.[1] While on the Western Front, he was so seriously wounded that he had a lung removed, something he kept a secret throughout his political career.[3] He returned to Shepparton where he and his brother established an orchard.[4] He was elected as president of the Shepparton Irrigators Association in 1922.[5]
Political career
Local politics
McDonald was elected to the Shepparton Shire Council in 1928.[1] During his time on the council, he often clashed with other councillors. In July 1929, after only serving twelve months on the council, he announced that he would not seek reelection for a second term in office.[6]
Parliamentary career
The 1936 Goulburn Valley state by-election was held following the appointment of member for Goulburn Valley Murray Bourchier as Agent-General for Victoria in London.[7][8] McDonald was elected with 50.6% of the primary vote against three other United Country Party (UCP) members.[5]
McDonald delivered his first speech to Parliament in July 1937 during the Address-in-Reply debate.[9] In it, he strongly endorsed the United Country Party government of Premier Albert Dunstan, describing it as "the best this State has had for many years," and praised its record on primary industry, irrigation, forestry, and infrastructure development.[9] The speech set out themes that would define much of his later career, including advocacy for rural roads, hydro-electric power, and expanded state support for agricultural science and irrigation schemes such as the Yarrawonga Weir.[9] McDonald also used his maiden speech to press for changes in several policy areas, including unemployment relief, the pace of irrigation works, and what he described as the long-term neglect of the Department of Agriculture.[9]
He became UCP whip in 1938 following the resignation of Norman Martin.[1][10] There were four other candidates for the position: Hamilton Lamb, Roy Paton, Albert Allnutt and Finlay Cameron.[11] McDonald was elected in the final round of voting with 15 votes to 13 against Lamb.[11] He was party whip until 1943.[1]
Dunstan resigned as leader of the UCP following the 1945 Victorian state election due to significant gains made by the Labor Party.[12] McDonald was elected leader of the UCP on 22 November 1945.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d e Costar, B. J., "Sir John Gladstone Black (Jack) McDonald (1898–1977)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 20 December 2024
- ^ First World War Nominal Roll Page - AWM133, 34-099, Australian War Memorial; accessed 11 June 2017.
- ^ Strangio, Paul; Costar, Brian J., eds. (2006). The Victorian premiers, 1856-2006. Annandale, N.S.W: Federation Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-86287-601-9.
- ^ Strangio, Paul; Costar, Brian J., eds. (2006). The Victorian premiers, 1856-2006. Annandale, N.S.W: Federation Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-86287-601-9.
- ^ a b "GOULBURN VALLEY BY-ELECTION DECLARATION OF POLL TODAY". Shepparton Advertiser. 26 September 1936. p. 1.
- ^ "WESTERN RIDING CR. J. G. B. MCDONALD WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION". Shepparton Advertiser. 11 July 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Sir Murray William James Bourchier". Re-Member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851. Parliament of Victoria. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "MR BORCHIER RESIGNS". The Age. 19 August 1936. p. 10. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d Mr. J. G. B. McDonald, *Address-in-Reply to the Speech of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor*, *Victorian Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)*, Legislative Assembly, 6 July 1937, pp. 34–42, https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4afc6b/globalassets/hansard-historical-documents/weekly/1937/19370706-hansard-combined.pdf.
- ^ "PARTY WHIP Honor for Mr. McDonald?". Shepparton Advertiser. 26 August 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ a b "GOVERNMENT WHIP Mr. McDonald Elected". The Age. 31 August 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ Paul, J. B., "Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan (1882–1950)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 15 January 2026
- ^ "Mr McDonald New Country Party Leader". The Herald. 22 November 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2026.