William Webster

Who was William Webster?

William Webster was an Australian politician. Born in Everton, Lancashire in England, he was the son of John Webster, a labourer, and Elizabeth, née Poynton. Leaving school at 13, Webster migrated to New South Wales in 1879 and, having quarried stone at Pyrmont and saved prodigiously, was able to bring the rest of his family to Sydney. By the next year he was financial secretary of the Trades and Labor Council. He married Jane Buckney on 7 June 1883 at Marrickville, and the firm he founded, Webster Bros, was one of the first in New South Wales to observe the standard wage and eight-hour day.

Webster was a member of Marrickville Municipal Council from 1887, and stood for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seats of Canterbury, Petersham, and Wickham, only to be defeated in all of them. Although he had opposed Federation, he contested the seat of Gwydir in 1901 in an attempt to enter the Australian House of Representatives, but was unsuccessful. However, from 1901 to 1903 he was the first Labor member for Moree in the Legislative Assembly, and as a result of his success was elected to the seat of Gwydir in 1903.