
Sir George Richard
Dibbs Premier of N.S.W. photograph neg.3212 National Library of
Australia
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THE NATIONAL
LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA'S FEDERATION
GATEWAY
DIBBS , SIR GEORGE RICHARD (1834-1904)
George Richard
Dibbs (Sir George from July 1892) was born in Sydney on 12 October 1834.
Educated in Sydney, he married Anne Maria Robey in 1857. Variously ship owner,
coal mine owner, and general importer, Dibbs first entered the NSW parliament
in 1874 and was defeated in 1877. He was then briefly chairman of the
Australasian Steam Navigation Company, and involved in controversies
surrounding the use of Chinese labour on company ships.
Re-elected to
Parliament in 1882 after a year in prison for refusal to pay a fine imposed in
a slander case Dibbs immediately became Colonial Treasurer in the Stuart
administration. He stopped the sale of crown land as a means of balancing the
books.
After Sir Alexander Stuart retired in October 1885 Dibbs became
Premier for the first time, with the Governor's agreement to call fresh
elections; he failed to win sufficient support to form another government. In
1889, again briefly Premier, Dibbs again called fresh elections, and again lost
parliamentary support. In October 1891 he formed his third administration,
which lasted until July 1894.
From October 1891 to December 1893, with
Edmund Barton as his Attorney General advocating federation, Dibbs supported
Barton, despite his own preference for unification, but severe financial
difficulties, a major strike at Broken Hill, and repeated political obstacles
in the parliament, prolonged the whole federation debate.
After Barton
left the administration in late 1893 Dibbs outlined a detailed idea for
unification of the colonies which he spelt out in mid 1894.
Following
July 1894 elections unfavourable to his party, under new electoral laws that
introduced universal male suffrage, Dibbs resigned office on grounds the
Governor refused to accept his advice and appoint 10 new Legislative
Councillors. George Reid then became Premier, called fresh elections in mid
1895, when Dibbs lost his seat.
Appointed Managing Trustee of the State
Savings Bank of New South Wales by Reid, Dibbs argued against federation at the
1898 and 1899 referenda, leading the Anti Federation League in 1899. Although
strongly in favour of Australia united as United Australia he opposed
federation as being bad for New South Wales financially, and because Sydney
would not be the national capital.
Dibbs died at Hunter's Hill, Sydney,
on 5 August 1904.
Books of interest
Campbell, Thomas William. (1999).George Richard Dibbs: Politician, Premier,
Patriot, Paradox. Braddon, A.C.T.: T.W. Campbell.
Crisp, L.F.
(Lesley Finlay). (1990).Federation Fathers / edited by John Hart; with
a foreward by Professor Manning Clark. Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University
Press.
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