Walter Wearne

The Honourable Walter Ernest Wearne
Walter Wearne, photographed in December 1927.
Personal details
Born	(1867-09-02)2 September 1867 Sydney
Died	17 January 1931(1931-01-17)(aged 63) Sydney
Political party	IndependentProgressive Party,Nationalist

Walter Ernest Wearne(2 September 1867 – 17 January 1931) was an Australian politician and member of theNew South Wales Legislative Assemblyfrom 1917 until 1930. He was initially elected as an Independent but subsequently formed theProgressive Partyof which he was the leader until it split into urban and rural wings in 1921. His urban wing subsequently amalgamated with theNationalist Partyof which he was the deputy leader in the NSW Parliament.

Early life

Wearne was born in Sydney. He was subsequently educated to elementary level inBingaraandInverell.His father, James Wearne, owned a sawmill where he was first employed. Wearne also worked as an auctioneer, commercial agent and council clerk for Bingara Shire between 1890 and 1910. By 1920 he had amassed considerable property in the Bingara region.

Political activity

In the first two decades of the twentieth century, he became politically active supporting temperance organizations and theNew England New State MovementofEarle Page.He became an office holder of theFarmers' and Settlers' Association of New South Wales.

State Parliament

At the1917 electionhe successfully contested the seat ofNamoias an Independent Nationalist. He defeated the sitting memberGeorge Blackwho had been expelled from theLabor Partyfor supporting theNationalistgovernment ofWilliam Holman.

Progressive Party and Government

Holman's conservative 'win the war' coalition broke up prior to the1920 electionwhich was conducted, for the first time, using proportional representation and multi-member seats. Wearne was elected to the three member seat of Namoi and became the leader of the 15 members who had been elected asProgressives.The Progressive Party was characterized by friction between its rural and urban members and this friction came to a climax with the fall of the government ofJames Dooleyon 20 December 1921. Urban progressives favoured a coalition with the Nationalist Party leaderGeorge Fullerbut most of the rural members, who became known as 'the True Blues', would only promise Fuller their conditional support. This division resulted in Fuller's government lasting less than 8 hours and Dooley regaining the Premiership.Despite representing a rural electorate Wearne sided withT J Leyand the urban wing of the party. This wing subsequently amalgamated with the Nationalist party, of which Wearne became deputy leader, while the rural wing evolved into theCountry Party.Wearne continued to represent Namoi as a Nationalist in the Legislative Assembly until multi-member seats were abolished at the1927 election.He then represented Barwon until his retirement at the1930 election.Wearne wasSecretary for LandsandMinister for Forestsin both Fuller Ministries.