Allan McLean

Who was Allan McLean?

Allan McLean was an Australian politician, the 19th Premier of Victoria.

McLean was born in the highlands of Scotland and came to Australia as a child in 1842 with his family. He later said 'were practically frozen out of Scotland' by 'an exceptionally severe winter'. His father, Charles McLean, was a grazier near Tarraville, in the Gippsland region of Victoria. McLean was educated at the local state school, assisted his father on his stations, and for a short period was on the staff of the Gippsland Times. About 1870, he acquired the lease of 'The Lowlands', a sheep station, on the shores of Lake Wellington near Sale and in 1872, formed the firm of A. McLean and Company, Stock and Station Agents, at Maffra. He became a shire councillor at Maffra in 1873, and as president of the shire was active in forming the Municipal Association of Victoria.

McLean was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Gippsland North in May 1880. A conservative, he was President of the Board of Land and Works and Minister of Agriculture in the James Munro ministry from 1890 to 1891, and Chief Secretary from 1891 to 1892, retaining this position under William Shiels from 1892 to 1893.