Richard Goldsmith Burges (1847 - 1905)

Born 4 Dec 1847 in York, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mona Mary Sophia (Phillips) Burges — married 31 Dec 1879 in Culham, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 25 Sep 1905 at age 57 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Richard was born on the family property "Tipperary" near York on 4 December 1847.^[1][2]

He married Mona Mary Sophia Phillips on 31 December 1879 at Culham.^[2] They had seven children over seventeen years.

Richard was a farmer and pastoralist at "Tipperary", York and "Andover" in North West . He employed three Ticket of Leave men 1880-1883. He visited the Eastern colonies, returning in July 1881 per Otway. He was a member of the York Road Board 1888-1903 and chairman sometimes. He was made a JP in 1892. Richard was MLC for East Province from May 1894 to March 1903 and MLA York from April 1903 to his death.^[2]

Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955), Wednesday 27 September 1905, page 2
On Monday afternoon news was received in Northam of the death of Mr. R. G. Burges , M.L.A. for York. The intimation came as a great shock to the deceased gentleman's many friends in this district, few of whom knew that he was in any way indisposed. In our issue of Saturday last it was announced that Mr. Burges had been one of the largest buyers of pedigree stock at the Royal Show sales in Melbourne a fortnight ago. His purchases came to Western Aus tralia by the s.s. Kyarra which reached Fremantle on Monday, and Mr. Burges had telegraphed from Adelaide entering them for exhibition at the forthcoming Northam show. Mr. Burges was accompanied on his visit to the Eastern States by one of his sons, and they returned to Adelaide at the beginning of last week, intending to catch the mail boat to Fremantle on Thursday. On Tuesday, however, Mr. Burges was taken ill at the South Australian Hotel, and his medical adviser ordered him to remain in bed. He became gradually worse, and died at 3 o'clock on Monday morning, the cause of death being heart failure resulting from double pneumonia.

Having been advised of Mr. Burges' illness, the Premier, Mr. C. H. Rason, telegraghed to the Premier of South Australia on Monday morning, asking for news with regard to his health, and received the following reply :-"Regret to inform you that Mr. Burges died at three o'clock this morning from heart failure, following on pneumonia. His son, who accompanied him, is making funeral arrangements. Can we do anything for you." The body of the deceased gentleman is to be brought to Western Australia for interment. The flag at Parliament House was flying at half-mast on Monday, and it is understood that when Parliament meets on Tuesday next the Premier will ask members to adjourn over the day as a mark of respect to the deceased member. Prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Burges represented the East Province in the Legislative Council for a number of years, and his sudden death calls to mind the fact that three other reptesentatives of this province — Messrs. Crowder, Lukin, and Keane, have died in harness within the past four years.

The late Mr. Richard Goldsmith Burges was member of a well known and much respected West Australian family. He was 58 years old, having been born at Tipperary Farm, in the York district, in 1847. He was educated at York, and at the age of 26 he went to the North-West, and for a few years engaged in pastoral pursuits at Andover, near Roeburne. Returning south, he settled again at York, and on the death of his father, the late Mr. Samuel Burges, he took over the latter's property. In 1804 Mr. Burges was elected to the Legislative Council as a member for the East Province. He was re-elected without opposition in 1897, and continued to represent the province in the upper house for some years. When Mr. Monger resigned as representative of York in the Legislative Assembly, in April, 1903, Mr. Burges successfully contested the seat, and was again returned unnopposed at the general elections of 1904. Mr. Burges took an active part in local affairs, and was a member of the York Roads Board for 15 years, and was several times elected chairman.

He leaves a widow, six sons, and one daughter. Four of the sons are settled at Tipperary ; the other two and the daughter, who is ten years of age, are at school. Mrs. Burges, who for some time has been living in Perth, returned a few days ago to Tipperary. Some months , ago Mr. Burges practically retired from active work in connection with his farm, and took up his residence in Perth, letting the property at York to his sons. As a politician Mr. Burges was one of the most useful men in the State. Thoroughly versed in all the possibilities and requirements of the agricultural and pastoral industries, his knowledge and experience were invaluable in a Parliament that has too few practical men. He was one of the most enterprising of the settlers in the Eastern Districts his recent heavy purchases of prize stock in Melbourne being characteristic of his progressive methods at the same time few men were more deservedly popular, and his widow and family will have the sympathy of the entire district in their sad and sudden bereavement.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ WA Birth Index 1847/1054
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} The Bicentennial dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888. [compiled by Rica Erickson], https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211992724

• Wikipedia Biography. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Goldsmith_Burges
• York Cemetery records. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51180368/richard-goldsmith-burges