James Mortimer Macfarlane (12 October 1865 – 16 May 1942) was a

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

n politician and businessman. He was a prominent figure in the development of the state's butter industry, former member of the

Perth City Council Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, and member of the

Western Australian Legislative Council The Western Australian Legislative Council is the upper house of the Parliament of Western Australia, a state of Australia. It is regarded as a house of review for legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly, the lower house. The two Houses ...

Early life

James Macfarlane was born in Oakleigh,

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, on 12 October 1865 to farmer Robert Macfarlane and his wife Elizabeth. He was educated in Victoria, and was engaged in mining prior to 1897, in which year he came to

. Three years later he returned to Victoria, but in 1902 relocated once again to Western Australia.

Businesses and organisations

Macfarlane formed Bacchus Marsh Concentrate Milk Co in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

in the 1890s. In Western Australia he founded the firm of Macfarlane and Co, Ltd, and became associated prominently with the milk and butter industry. In 1902 he obtained a lease of a butter factory at

Busselton Busselton is a city in the South West region of the state of Western Australia approximately south-west of Perth. Busselton has a long history as a popular holiday destination for Western Australians; however, the closure of the Busselton ...

. In 1910 Macfarlane was appointed by the Government as a commercial member of the Food Standards Committee, set up under the ''Pure Foods Act''. He advocated in the eastern states for recognition of Western Australia's dairy industry when an Australian dairy organisation was being developed. He was chairman of the West Australian committee of the Australian Dairy Council until it ceased to function in 1935. Macfarlane then became chairman of the West Australian Pasture Improvement Committee of the Australian Dairy Produce Board, retaining that post until he retired in 1940. Macfarlane was treasurer of the War Patriotic Fund, which collected and distributed £129,000 among soldiers during World War II. He was also a president of the Royal Agricultural Society, and vice-patron of the Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia, having been a member for over 30 years. Additionally, Macfarlane was the chairman of the executive of the Soldiers' Dependants' appeal.

Politics

Macfarlane became a member of the

in 1915, and served until 1922. Six years later he unsuccessfully contested the council mayoral position. Macfarlane was elected to the Legislative Council as member for the

Metropolitan Province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of severa ...

in 1922. In 1928 he failed to gain re-election, but two years later was again elected to the Legislative Council as member for the

Metropolitan-Suburban Province The Metropolitan-Suburban Province was a three-member electoral province of the Western Australian Legislative Council, located in the metropolitan region of Perth. It was created by the ''Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899'', and became effect ...

. He served as a member of the

National Party of Western Australia The National Party of Australia (WA) Inc, branded The Nationals WA, is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity. Since the 2021 state election ...

, and in 1930 became president of that party.

Family

Macfarlane married Ellen Eliza Howie on 13 May 1889 at The Manse in

South Melbourne South Melbourne is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. South Melbourne recorded a population of 11,548 at t ...

. They had no children together, and he was widowed on 16 July 1911. On 4 December 1912, Macfarlane married Jane Whyte (née Bellamy) in St Andrews Church, Perth, and became a stepfather to her son and two daughters. Jane died on 25 September 1940.

Death

Macfarlane died on 16 May 1942, at his home in Flay Street, West Perth. At about 10:20pm, he went to bed and asked for a glass of water; when it was brought to him, he was found dead from what appeared to be a heart attack. Macfarlane's funeral was held at

Karrakatta Cemetery Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, the first being that of wheelwright Robert Creighton. Managed by the Metropolitan Ce ...

, where he was buried, on 19 May 1942.

Early life

Businesses and organisations

Politics

Family

Death

References

Further reading