The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Fraser, Hon. Simon

by Philip Mennell

Layout 2

Fraser, Hon. Simon, M.L.C., Victoria, youngest son of William Fraser, mill-owner and farmer, of Nova Scotia, to which colony that gentleman emigrated from Inverness, Scotland, soon after it was taken from, the French by the English. Mr. Fraser was born at Pictou, Nova Scotia, August 21st, 1834. On his arrival in Victoria, in 1853, Mr. Fraser spent some time at the diggings, but in a year or two turned his attention to contracting—at first in road works and bridge building, and later in railway construction,—being at various times a member of firms who carried out contracts in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. In the last-named colony he was one of the constructors of the Port Augusta and Government Gums Railway. While engaged in these works he also entered into squatting pursuits, first in Queensland, where he resided from 1867 to 1869, and afterwards in Victoria and New South Wales. He is still considerably interested in pastoral properties in the northern colony. At the general election of 1874 he stood for Rodney, in the interest of the Francis Ministry, and was opposed by Mr. J. J. Walsh, whom he beat by a large majority, and at the general election of May 1877 was again elected to the Legislative Assembly for the same district as a supporter of the M^cCulloch Ministry. After representing that constituency nine years, he retired in 1883, and visited Europe and America, being absent about two years. In 1885 he unsuccessfully contested West Melbourne with Mr. Carter, the Mayor of Melbourne. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the Legislative Council for the Northern province, in April 1886, but was returned as member for South Yarra province in August of the same year. In politics Mr. Fraser is a man of moderate views, and took an active interest in promoting the Service-Berry coalition of 1883. He is a J.P. for Victoria, and was for a lengthened period chairman of the Australian Widows' Fund Life Insurance Society, and a director of the City of Melbourne Bank and the private railway line between Deniliquin and Moama. Mr. Fraser has been twice married. In Nov. 1890 he became a member without portfolio of Mr. Munro's Cabinet. Twelve months later he voted against his colleagues' measure for establishing the principle of "one man one vote," and it was rejected by the Council, Mr. Fraser tendering his resignation in consequence. It was not, however, accepted, and the Bill was withdrawn. In Feb., however, when Mr. Shiels reconstructed the Cabinet, Mr. Fraser finally withdrew from office.