Background
CHAPMAN, Austin was born in Bowral. Son of Richard Chapman.
CHAPMAN, Austin was born in Bowral. Son of Richard Chapman.
Marulan.
M.L.A., Braidwood, in N.S. Wales Parliament, 1891-1901. Was Member New South Wales Commission for the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Justice of the Peace N.S. Wales, 1894.
Was tirst Government Whip in Federal Parliament. Attended by invitation the Coronation King Edward VII., 1902. Was Minister for Defence, 1903-1904.
Was mainly responsible for selection of Dalgety as Federal capital site. Was Chairman of Federal Royal Commission on Old Age Pensions, 1905-1906. PostmasterGeneral of Australia, 1905-1907.
Represented Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji at the Postal Union Convention held in Rome, 1906, advocating voting for universal penny post. Proposed universal penny postage in Australian Parliament, 1906. Introduced penny and toll telephone system in Australia, 1906.
Also uniform telegraph rates and postal orders throughout the Commonwealth, 1906. Was Member Commission New Zealand Exhibition, 1906-1907. Member of Parliament; Minister for Trade and Customs, Australia, since 1907; Member for Eden Monaro House of Representatives since 1901.
Club : Athenaeum, Sydney.