Date of Birth: 03/02/1863
Place of Birth: Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 15/09/1945
Place of Death: Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Member for Wickham |
24 Mar 1917 |
18 Feb 1920 |
2 years 10 months 26 days |
|
| Minister of Agriculture |
01 Jun 1915 |
14 Jan 1920 |
4 years 7 months 14 days |
|
| Honorary Minister |
15 Mar 1915 |
01 Jun 1915 |
2 months 18 days |
|
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No. 2 |
21 Jul 1914 |
23 Feb 1915 |
7 months 3 days |
|
| The Governor's Opening Speech Committee No. 1 |
07 Jul 1914 |
23 Feb 1915 |
7 months 17 days |
|
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No. 2 |
03 Mar 1914 |
18 Apr 1914 |
1 month 16 days |
|
| Governor's Opening Speech |
03 Mar 1914 |
03 Mar 1914 |
1 day |
|
| Governor's Opening Speech Committee No. 1 |
03 Mar 1914 |
03 Mar 1914 |
1 day |
|
| Member for Wickham |
06 Dec 1913 |
21 Feb 1917 |
3 years 2 months 16 days |
|
| Printing Committee No.6 |
06 Aug 1913 |
15 Oct 1913 |
2 months 10 days |
|
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 |
29 Jul 1913 |
15 Oct 1913 |
2 months 17 days |
|
| The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 |
23 Jul 1913 |
23 Jul 1913 |
1 day |
|
| Newcastle Iron and Steel Works Bill Committee No.11 |
10 Oct 1912 |
31 Oct 1912 |
22 days |
|
| City Tattersalls Club Committee No.9 |
13 Sep 1912 |
19 Sep 1912 |
7 days |
|
| Printing Committee No.6 |
07 Aug 1912 |
04 Dec 1912 |
3 months 28 days |
|
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 |
31 Jul 1912 |
05 Dec 1912 |
4 months 5 days |
|
| Operations of the Australian Jockey Club Committee No.22 |
20 Feb 1912 |
28 Mar 1912 |
1 month 9 days |
|
| Claims of Mr Gustave William Engel Committee No.13 |
10 Oct 1911 |
18 Oct 1911 |
9 days |
|
| Printing Committee No.6 |
12 Sep 1911 |
28 Mar 1912 |
6 months 17 days |
|
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 |
30 Aug 1911 |
03 Oct 1911 |
1 month 4 days |
|
| Operations of the Australian Jockey Club Committee No.8 |
13 Jun 1911 |
01 Aug 1911 |
1 month 20 days |
|
| Printing Committee No.6 |
30 May 1911 |
13 Jul 1911 |
1 month 14 days |
|
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 |
16 May 1911 |
01 Aug 1911 |
2 months 17 days |
|
| The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 |
16 May 1911 |
16 May 1911 |
1 day |
|
| Printing Committee No.6 |
30 Nov 1910 |
23 Dec 1910 |
24 days |
|
| Member for Wickham |
14 Oct 1910 |
06 Nov 1913 |
3 years 24 days |
|
| Member for Wickham |
10 Sep 1907 |
14 Sep 1910 |
3 years 5 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
10 Sep 1907 |
18 Feb 1920 |
12 years 5 months 9 days |
|
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP), whip 1914 - 1916; personally opposed to conscription, left ALP with Holman; stood as an Independent in 1920; later was a supporter of J.T Lang.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Jeweller. Little formal education; worked on family farm and at prawning; moved with family to Newcastle, apprentice in family's jewellery business; acted as a traveller; after death of wife moved to Gosford in c.1924, established a garage and car sales business; purchased land in the area, also the Gloucester Timber Company (Newcastle) and another timber business; lost both in the depression; president of Gosford Chamber of Commerce; noted athlete in youth; Good Templar.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman at Wickham from 1900 until 1907, councillor of Erina shire from 1933 until 1936, and on creation of Gosford municipality, first Mayor from 1936 until 1944
Personal
Son of William Grahame, farmer, and Isabel Calman. Married (1) Emily Smith in 1885 and had issue, 7 children. Married (2) Myra Lascelles Campbell in 1925 and had issue, 2 sons. Methodist. Buried in Point Clare cemetery. He was involved in three scandals during his ministerial career: a coal contract which was alleged to have given special consideration to a colliery owner who was an associate of Grahame's; a contract for construction of wheat silos which was seen as unduly favourable to the contractor; and the purchase of a large amount of wheat from the Government pool by a speculator at a very advantageous price. A Royal Commission investigated the last scandal and, though its findings were inconclusive, Grahame resigned from the Ministry in January 1920.
Additional Information
Report of Royal Commission into circumstances surrounding the making of
contract dated 20 February 1919, for sale to George Georgeson of 72,000 tons of
wheat of what is known as 1916-17 wheat (Hon. Mr Justice Robert Darlow Pring).
New South Wales Parliamentary Papers, Session 1919, Volume 1, page 179
