Background
Garrett was born in Liverpool, England and went to New South Wales with his parents when nine years of age.
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Thomas Garrett
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Education
A year later he was bound to the printing business, but during his apprenticeship he ran away, and became a cabin-boy on His Majesty’s Ship Fly, then employed in resurveying the coast between Portuguese Jackson and Hobson"s Bay. The youth was soon sent back, and having finished his apprenticeship, he was engaged on a number of newspapers, subsequently being employed in the Government printing office, where he worked for three years.
Career
Mr. Garrett then turned his attention to journalism, and in 1855 established the Illawarra Mercury, and afterwards also the Alpine Pioneer and the Cooma Mercury. In 1860 Garrett first entered Parliament, sitting for the Monaro constituency. He retired four years later in favour of Mr.
Alexander Montague, but was elected for Shoalhaven, for which electorate he sat as member until 1872.
Afterwards he acted for a short period as police magistrate for Berrima, but not caring for official life, he again entered Parliament, this time for Camden, for which electorate he sat until the general election in June 1892, when, on account of ill-health, he decided not to again contest the seat, and bade farewell to political life. He was Secretary for Lands in the third John Robertson Ministry from February
1875 to February 1877, when he resigned.
In the fourth Robertson Government he filled the same post from August to November 1877, when he again resigned, and was succeeded, as on the former occasion, by Mr.
East. A. Baker. He was Minister of Lands in the Parkes Government from January
1887 to July 1888.
