Joseph Bede Kelly (1 May 1855 – 5 June 1931) was an Australian politician, surveyor, farmer and businessman. Joseph Bede Kelly was born at

Gosford Gosford is the city and administrative centre of the Central Coast Council local government area in the heart of the Central Coast region, about north of Sydney and about south of Newcastle. The city centre is situated at the northern extre ...

to farmer John Kelly and Mary Bevin. He attended Fort Street Model School before becoming a surveyor; he also farmed land around

Byron Bay Byron Bay ( Minjungbal: ''Cavvanbah)'' is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia on Bundjalung Country. It is located north of Sydney and south of Brisbane. Cape Byron, a hea ...

. Joseph Bede Kelly (1855-1931) was the grandson of former convict Edward Kelly and his wife Mary who had taken up land on the upper reaches of Popran Creek in the Glenworth Valley off the

Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River, is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. ...

north of Sydney in 1826. Joseph Bede Kelly was the son of John Kelly who was the son of Edward Kelly. John Kelly, his brother Edward (jnr) and their mother arrived in Sydney in 1841, sixteen years after Edward had arrived in the colony as a convict. John Kelly married Mary Bevan in 1844 and Joseph Bede Kelly was born on 1 May 1855 at Popran Creek. He was the sixth of eight children. Joseph Kelly was educated at Fort Street High School and subsequently joined the NSW Surveyor- General's Department. After an initial posting to Orange he was appointed assistant Government Surveyor with the North Coast Survey Department at Grafton, NSW. From 1881 until 1919 Joseph Kelly was a prominent figure in the development of the Northern rivers region. He was a surveyor, farmer, businessman and politician. He was also one of the founders and first chairman of directors of the North Coast Cooperative Company (NORCO)The Australian Surveyor Vol 3 1931, Issue 3, p.121 In 1894 he was elected to the

New South Wales Legislative Assembly The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament Ho ...

as the

Protectionist Protectionism, sometimes referred to as trade protectionism, is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulations. ...

member for

Tweed Tweed is a rough, woollen fabric, of a soft, open, flexible texture, resembling cheviot or homespun, but more closely woven. It is usually woven with a plain weave, twill or herringbone structure. Colour effects in the yarn may be obtained ...

. Re-elected in 1895, he was defeated in 1898.Joseph Kelly remained in the northern rivers region until 1918 after which he retired to his birthplace and property on Popran Creek, Glenworth Valley. He died at Mangrove Creek in 1931.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Joseph 1855 births 1931 deaths Colony of New South Wales people Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Protectionist Party politicians People educated at Fort Street High School

See also

References