Timothy Quinlan

Who was Timothy Quinlan?

Timothy Francis Quinlan CMG KSS was an Australian politician who represented the electorates of West Perth and Toodyay in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly between 1890 and 1894, and 1897 and 1911, respectively. Quinlan was also Speaker of the Assembly for a period of time between 1905 and 1911.

Born in Borrisokane, County Tipperary, Ireland on 18 February 1861, Timothy Quinlan emigrated to Western Australia with his parents in 1863. Orphaned in 1865, he was raised by Joseph Thomas Reilly, and educated at the Cathedral Boys School in Perth. He worked for John Monger at York from 1875, and then for Alexander McRae at Roebourne. He was also involved in the pearling industry for about two years.

In 1882, Quinlan leased the Shamrock Hotel in Perth from Daniel Connor, an expiree convict who had become one of the wealthy men in the colony. In 1883, Quinlan married Teresa Connor, the daughter of businessman Daniel Connor, with whom he later had eight children. Bernard Gerald and Patrick Francis Quinlan both played first-class cricket in Ireland, while his oldest daughter, Teresa Gertrude Quinlan, married politician John Kirwan, who served in both State and Federal Parliament.