Anthony O'Grady Lefroy

Who was Anthony O'Grady Lefroy?

Anthony O'Grady Lefroy CMG, often known as O'Grady Lefroy, was an important government official in Western Australia before the advent of responsible government.

O'Grady Lefroy was born at Limerick, Ireland on 14 March 1816. He was the nephew of Thomas Langlois Lefroy. In 1842, at the age of 27, he migrated to Western Australia on board the Lady Grey. In 1847, Lefroy and his brother Gerald accompanied Alfred Durlacher in exploring the area that later became known as Gingin. Shortly afterwards, he purchased land at Walebing, where he was a pastoralist until retiring in favour of his son in 1873.

Lefroy was private secretary to Governor Charles Fitzgerald from 1843 probably until 1853, and again from 1854 to 1855. In 1851 he was Clerk to the Executive and Legislative Councils. In 1856, Lefroy was appointed Colonial Treasurer, and he would hold that position for over 30 years, until the advent of responsible government in December 1890. He did, however, spend portions of this period in England: he was in England in 1858, 1863–65, and 1868–71.