Robert Beckett (28 November 1862 – 2 June 1917) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

-born

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n politician.

Early life

He arrived 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 1867 aged five, and settled with his family in

Surrey Hills, Victoria Surrey Hills is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Boroondara and Whitehorse local government areas. Surrey Hills recorded a population of 13,655 at ...

. His father died when he was ten, after which he assumed the role of father in his family. He initially worked for a printer while continuing his studies, qualifying as a solicitor in his late twenties. Joseph Hood (of Malleson, England & Stewart) secured him articles with Abbott & Eales. Beckett married Ethel Anna Wells in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

on 30 April 1903.

Political career

Becket was a Boroondara shire Councillor from 1892 to 1902, Camberwell shire councillor from 1902 to 1905 and mayor from 1907 to 1908. Beckett was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council representing East Yarra as a Non-Labor member from June 1913 to June 1917 and died while in office.

Posts held

Becket held the following posts: * President of the Law Institute 1908-1909 * Commissioner Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works 1904-1916 * Vice-president Swinburne Technical College * Chairman Municipal Building Regulations conference * Methodist Sunday School superintendent for 30 years/

Other information

Beckett St and

Beckett Park Beckett Park (also known as Beckett's Park) is a residential area and a large public park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is in the Weetwood ward of Leeds City Council. It borders onto Headingley, West Park and Kirkstall. It is named af ...

Balwyn, Victoria Balwyn () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Boroondara local government area. Balwyn recorded a population of 13,495 at the 2021 census. Whitehor ...

are named after him. He is buried in Box Hill cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckett, Robert 1842 births 1917 deaths Mayors of places in Victoria (Australia) Politicians from Melbourne Victoria (Australia) state politicians Burials at Box Hill Cemetery Members of the Victorian Legislative Council English emigrants to colonial Australia People from Surrey Hills, Victoria