Background
Fairbairn was born in Geelong, Victoria and educated at Geelong Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge.
Fairbairn was born in Geelong, Victoria and educated at Geelong Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge.
University of Cambridge.
Fairbairn returned to Australia in 1876 and in the following years managed Peak Downs and Barcaldine stations in Queensland. In 1890, he took over the family farm at Lara, Victoria and subsequently acquired other farms in Victoria and New South Wales and developed numerous business interests. He was president of the Employers" Federation of Australia for six years.
In 1903 Fairbairn was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Toorak which he held until 1906 when he resigned to contest the newly created seat of Fawkner in the Australian House of Representatives.
He was Agent-General for Victoria in London from 1924 to 1927. He was knighted in 1926.