Sir John HAY (1816 - 1892)**

Date of Birth: 22/06/1816 Place of Birth: Little Ythsie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Date of Death: 20/01/1892 Place of Death: Rose Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 16 Apr 1856 27 May 1867 11yr(s) 1mth(s) 12day(s) Member of the NSW Legislative Council 2 Jul 1867 20 Jan 1892 24yr(s) 6mth(s) 19day(s) Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 26 June 1867. Member for Murrumbidgee 16 Apr 1856 3 Oct 1856 5mth(s) 18day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Murrumbidgee 14 Oct 1856 19 Dec 1857 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 6day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Murrumbidgee 9 Feb 1858 11 Apr 1859 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 3day(s) 2nd (1858 - 1859) Member for Murray 22 Jun 1859 10 Nov 1864 5yr(s) 4mth(s) 20day(s) 3rd (1859 - 1860) Member for Murray 19 Dec 1860 10 Nov 1864 3yr(s) 10mth(s) 23day(s) 4th (1860 - 1864) Member for Central Cumberland 26 Nov 1864 27 May 1867 2yr(s) 6mth(s) 2day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Secretary for Lands and Works 3 Oct 1856 7 Sep 1857 11mth(s) 5day(s) Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 14 Oct 1862 31 Oct 1865 3yr(s) 18day(s) President of the Legislative Council 8 Jul 1873 20 Jan 1892 18yr(s) 6mth(s) 13day(s) Audit of the Revenue Accounts Committee No.6 6 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 7mths 13days 1st (1856 - 1857) City Commissioners’ Department Committee No.7 12 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 7mths 7days 1st (1856 - 1857) Additional Ministerial Department Committee No.12 20 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 6mths 27days 1st (1856 - 1857) Australian Trust Company’s Bill Committee No.13 19 Sep 1856 18 Mar 1857 5mths 28days 1st (1856 - 1857) Electric Telegraph Committee No.14 31 Oct 1856 18 Mar 1857 4mths 16days 1st (1856 - 1857) Native Police Force Committee No.17 8 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 4mths 11days 1st (1856 - 1857) Civil Service Superannuation Fund Committee No.19 11 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 4mths 8days 1st (1856 - 1857) Administration of Justice and Conduct of Official Business in Country Districts Committee No.20 11 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 4mths 8days 1st (1856 - 1857) Sole Commissioner of Railways Incorporation Bill Committee No.22 19 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 3mths 28days 1st (1856 - 1857) Railway Terminus and Wharfs at Newcastle Committee No.25 9 Dec 1856 18 Mar 1857 3mths 10days 1st (1856 - 1857) Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.27 20 Feb 1857 18 Mar 1857 27days 1st (1856 - 1857) Governor General’s Opening Speech 11 Aug 1857 11 Aug 1857 1day 1st (1856 - 1857) Audit of the Accounts of the Revenues Committee 12 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 4mths 7days 1st (1856 - 1857) Secondary Punishment Committee No.8 27 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 3mths 22days 1st (1856 - 1857) Navigation of the Murray and its Effluents Committee No.10 27 Oct 1857 18 Dec 1857 1mth 22days 1st (1856 - 1857) Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.13 30 Oct 1857 18 Dec 1857 1mth 19days 1st (1856 - 1857) Late Shipwrecks, Port Jackson Committee No.11 30 Oct 1857 18 Dec 1857 1mth 19days 1st (1856 - 1857) Seizure of Gold Dust on board the “Ethereal” Committee No.18 4 Dec 1857 18 Dec 1857 15days 1st (1856 - 1857) The Library Committee No.3 25 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 8mths 2days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 26 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 8mths 1day 2nd (1858 - 1859) Navigation of the Murray, & c. Committee No.8 13 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 14days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.10 16 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 11days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Registration and Preservation of Records Committee No.13 23 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 4days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Management of the Survey Department Committee No.15 30 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 6mths 28days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Bathurst School of Arts Bill Committee No.16 30 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 6mths 28days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Australian Gas Light Company’s Bill Committee No.18 18 May 1858 26 Nov 1858 6mths 9days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Pyrmont Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.19 18 May 1858 26 Nov 1858 6mths 9days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Seizure of Gold on board the ‘Ethereal’ and ‘May Nicholson’ Committee No.21 15 Jun 1858 26 Nov 1858 5mths 12days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Proposed Presbyterian College (petition) from the Reverend John Dunmore Lang Committee No.26 13 Jul 1858 26 Nov 1858 4mths 14days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Railway Accident Committee No.28 14 Jul 1858 26 Nov 1858 4mths 13days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 9 Dec 1858 9 Apr 1859 4mths 1day 2nd (1858 - 1859) Vacant Seat – Question of Privilege Committee No.9 3 Mar 1859 9 Apr 1859 1mth 7days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Parliamentary Accommodation Committee No.10 17 Mar 1859 9 Apr 1859 24days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Library Committee No.3 1 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 10mths 4days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Standing Orders Committee No.2 1 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 10mths 4days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 2 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 10mths 3days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Sydney Grammar School Committee No.6 13 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Retrenchment in the Public Expenditure Committee No.7 14 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 21days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Claims of Mr David Morris and others Committee No.11 20 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 15days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Case of James Hibburd Committee No.16 23 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 12days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Pitt-street Tramway Bill Committee No.18 29 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 6days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Condition of the Working Classes of the Metropolis Committee No.19 30 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 5days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Wesley College Bill Committee No.21 12 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 23days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Seat claimed by James Hoskins, Esquire, Committee No.23 13 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) St Andrew’s College Bill Committee No.24 14 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 21days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Chairman Railway Management Committee No.28 13 Dec 1859 4 Jul 1860 6mths 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Petition of Alexander Berry, Esquire, Committee No.30 3 Feb 1860 4 Jul 1860 5mths 2days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Hawkesbury Benevolent Society’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.35 16 Feb 1860 4 Jul 1860 4mths 19days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Federation of the Australian Colonies Committee No.38 3 Apr 1860 4 Jul 1860 3mths 2days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Seizure of Opium per “Kate Hooper” Committee No.41 13 Apr 1860 4 Jul 1860 2mths 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Chairman Standing Orders Committee No.2 27 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 14days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Library Committee No.3 27 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 14days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Federation of the Australian Colonies Committee No.5 28 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 13days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Petition of Mr Alexander Berry Committee No.9 12 Oct 1860 9 Nov 1860 29days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Standing Orders Committee No.2 15 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 27days 4th (1860 - 1864) Library Committee No.3 15 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 27days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.9 16 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 26days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Shoalhaven Municipality – (Petition of Alex Berry, Esquire) Committee No.5 17 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Colonial Bank of Australasia Incorporation Bill Committee No.6 18 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 24days 4th (1860 - 1864) State and Management of the Sydney Domain Committee No.20 19 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 2mths 23days 4th (1860 - 1864) Wahgunyah Murray Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.21 19 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 2mths 23days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Sydney Revenues Improvement Bill Committee No.25 1 Mar 1861 11 May 1861 2mths 11days 4th (1860 - 1864) Privilege Committee No.29 4 Apr 1861 11 May 1861 1mth 8days 4th (1860 - 1864) Library Committee No.3 4 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4mths 17days 4th (1860 - 1864) Standing Orders Committee No.2 4 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4mths 17days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 6 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4mths 15days 4th (1860 - 1864) Distribution of Relief to Sufferers by last Flood at Windsor Committee No.5 17 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4mths 4days 4th (1860 - 1864) Benevolent Asylum, Sydney Committee No.8 27 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Wagga Wagga Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.7 27 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Mr F.W Birmingham Committee No.10 1 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Richmond Bridge Company’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.11 1 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Mr A.E Bush Committee No.13 8 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 13days 4th (1860 - 1864) Maitland and Morpeth Railway Company’s Bill Committee No.12 9 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 12days 4th (1860 - 1864) Pyrmont Bridge Company’s Supplementary Bill Committee No.14 18 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 3days 4th (1860 - 1864) Presbyterian Church Temporalities Act of 1837 Committee No.17 1 Nov 1861 20 Jan 1862 2mths 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) System of Railway Locomotion proposed by Mr E.Bell Committee No.18 12 Nov 1861 20 Jan 1862 2mths 9days 4th (1860 - 1864) Standing Orders Committee No.2 28 May 1862 28 May 1862 1day 4th (1860 - 1864) Library Committee No.3 28 May 1862 1 Aug 1862 2mths 5days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 29 May 1862 17 Jun 1862 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Land Titles Declaration Bill Committee No.8 10 Jun 1862 2 Sep 1862 2mths 24days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 10 Jun 1862 2 Sep 1862 2mths 24days 4th (1860 - 1864) Pilot Board Committee No.9 17 Jun 1862 7 Oct 1862 3mths 21days 4th (1860 - 1864) Management of the Central Police Office Committee No.13 8 Jul 1862 12 Dec 1862 5mths 5days 4th (1860 - 1864) Mr J.E Liardet Committee No.14 22 Jul 1862 20 Dec 1862 4mths 29days 4th (1860 - 1864) Slaughter of Cattle under Cattle Disease Prevention Act Committee No.17 5 Aug 1862 2 Dec 1862 3mths 28days 4th (1860 - 1864) Presbyterian College Bill Committee No.25 12 Aug 1862 18 Nov 1862 3mths 7days 4th (1860 - 1864) Gibson’s Estate Bill Committee No.27 2 Sep 1862 4 Sep 1862 3days 4th (1860 - 1864) Morehead and Young’s Railway Bill Committee No.28 2 Sep 1862 15 Oct 1862 1mth 14days 4th (1860 - 1864) Mount Pleasant Tramroad Bill Committee No.36 7 Oct 1862 17 Oct 1862 11days 4th (1860 - 1864) Library Committee No.3 24 Mar 1863 31 Mar 1864 1yr 8days 4th (1860 - 1864) The Speaker Standing Orders Committee No.2 24 Jun 1863 10 Dec 1863 5mths 17days 4th (1860 - 1864) The Speaker Library Committee No.3 24 Jun 1863 31 Mar 1864 9mths 8days 4th (1860 - 1864) Library Committee No.3 24 Jun 1863 31 Mar 1864 9mths 8days 4th (1860 - 1864) The Speaker Library Committee No.3 19 Oct 1864 9 Nov 1864 22days 4th (1860 - 1864) Standing Orders Committee No.2 19 Oct 1864 9 Nov 1864 22days 4th (1860 - 1864) Library Committee No.5 8 Mar 1865 21 Jun 1865 3mths 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.4 8 Mar 1865 21 Jun 1865 3mths 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.3 25 Oct 1865 6 Dec 1865 1mth 12days 5th (1865 - 1869) Library Committee No.2 25 Oct 1865 7 Apr 1866 5mths 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Reserves under Crown Lands Alienation Act Committee No.15 23 Feb 1866 4 Apr 1866 1mth 13days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.3 25 Jul 1866 18 Mar 1867 7mths 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Library Committee No.2 25 Jul 1866 18 Mar 1867 7mths 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Church of England Property Management Bill Committee No.8 26 Jul 1866 22 Dec 1886 20yrs 4mths 27days 5th (1865 - 1869) Railway from Echuca to Deniliquin Committee No.10 21 Sep 1866 20 Dec 1866 2mths 30days 5th (1865 - 1869) Presbyterian College Bill Committee No.18 31 Oct 1866 8 Nov 1866 9days 5th (1865 - 1869) Alleged Irregularity in Registration of a Deed Committee No.17 31 Oct 1866 8 Nov 1866 9days 5th (1865 - 1869) Fisheries Act Amendment Bill Committee No.20 2 Nov 1866 2 Dec 1866 1mth 1day 5th (1865 - 1869)

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Pastoralist . Educated at King's College, University of Aberdeen (MA 1834). Studied law in Edinburgh, but abandoned it. Arrived in Sydney with wife l July 1838. Soon settled at Welaragang, 22,250 acres on Upper Murray, in partnership with brother-in-law James Chalmers. By 1857 had other runs in Murrumbidgee district totalling over 200,000 acres; also had Boollowkeena in Albert district, 28,800 acres. Chairman of the Mercantile Bank of Sydney, 1874. Director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society and of European Assurance Society. Lived in Sydney after 1856. President of the Highland Society of New South Wales. Vice-President of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales. Vice-President of the Australian Club. A founder Union Club; Vice-President of the New South Wales commissions for exhibitions at Philadelphia, Paris, Sydney, and Amsterdam. Opposed Riverina separation.

Honours Received

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1878.

Personal

Son of John Hay, farmer, and Jean Mair. Married in 1838 with Mary Chalmers and had no issue. Anglican.

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4 Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: 1. David Berry - papers, 1808 - 1946, including papers of Alexander and John Berry, and of the trustees of the estates of David Berry and Sir John Hay (A 5373); photographs in the PICMAN Database. 2. David Perry - papers of the trustees of the Berry and Hay Estates, 1875 - 1951 (A5374). 3. Berry and Hay Estates - records, 1884 - 1950 (MLMSS676) 4. Berry family - papers of the Berry, Wollstonecraft and Hay afmilies, 1741 - 1941. (MLMSS 15). Photographs in the PICMAN Database. Text from the book "The Presiding Officers of Parliament of New South Wales" Sydney 1995

John Hay was born on 22 June 1816 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He abandoned a promising legal career and emigrated with his new wife, Mary Chalmers, to New South Wales in 1838. Settling on the Upper Murray, he became a successful and wealthy squatter with pastoral interests spread throughout the Murrumbidgee and Albert districts. In 1856 he entered the first Legislative Assembly under responsible Government as the Member for The Murrumbidgee, and in 1859 was elected as the Member for The Murray. After vigorous opposition to the division of the Riverina district, he resigned as the Member for The Murray and successfully contested the seat of Central Cumberland. Despite the success of his no confidence motion against the Cowper Government in 1856, Hay declined to form his own ministry, but accepting the portfolio of Secretary of Lands and Works in the Parker Ministry. Elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1862, he held this position until 1865 and two years later resigned from the Assembly to take up an appointment in the Upper House. As a vocal critic of John Robertson's land policy, Hay actively sought to block the passage of the act through the Parliament and was successful in preventing the policy of `free selection before survey' from becoming part of the Crown Lands Alienation Bill. Appointed President of the Council in 18'73, Hay worked within the framework of the newly constituted Council and conducted his responsibilities with great fairness and impartiality; he held this position until his death in 1892. As a central figure in the first decades of responsible government he provided direction through his rulings and a basis for the development of procedural traditions. He died 20 January 1892 at Rose Bay in Sydney.

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