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THE NATIONAL
LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA'S FEDERATION
GATEWAY
QUICK, SIR JOHN (1852-1932)
Politician and author, Quick was
born in Trevassa, Cornwall, on 14 April 1852. The family migrated to Victoria
in 1854 and having started work at 10 years in an iron foundry he became a
reporter on the Bendigo Independent, developing as an excellent
shorthand-writer.
In 1877 he obtained his Law Degree, LLB, from
University of Melbourne, and attained the degree of LLD by examination in 1882.
Quick was called to the Bar in June 1878 and was elected to the Legislative
Assembly in 1880.
Quick was elected to the Legislative Assembly for
Sandhurst (Bendigo) in 1880. When he lost his seat, following electoral
redistribution in 1889, he had done much to interest the Australian Natives'
Association in the Federation issue. He attended an intercolonial conference in
Corowa, N.S.W., in August, 1893. In November 1893, he drafted a bill which
became the basis for deliberations by the Adelaide Convention, 1897. He was, in
January, 1901, knighted in recognition of his services to the Federation
movement.
From 15 March, 1901, he sat in the Commonwealth Parliament,
House of Representatives for 12 years as the Member for Bendigo, being defeated
at general election on 31 May, 1913. In 1922 he was appointed Deputy President
of the Federal Arbitration Court, holding this position until retirement on 25
March, 1930.
Quick died on 17 June, 1932.
Books of
interest
Quick, John, Sir. (1901). The annotated
constitution of the Australian Commonwealth /by John Quick and Robert
Randolph Garran. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
Quick, John, Sir.
(1919). The Legislative Powers of the Commonwealth and the States of
Australia with proposed amendments. Melbourne: Charles F.
Maxwell.
A Tribute to His Honor Sir John Quick, Deputy
President, Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, 1922-1930
/from the Commonwealth Reporting Branch. [Melbourne: Attorney-General's
Department, Reporting Branch,1930]
Sir John Quick's manuscripts are in
the Library at MS 439. |