John Monger

Who was John Monger?

John Henry Monger, Jr was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council from 1870 to 1875, and again from 1890 to 1892.

Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1831, his father, also named John Henry Monger, was a prominent York merchant. His younger brother, Joseph Taylor Monger, would also become a York merchant and a Member of the Legislative Council. Monger spent much of his early life in England, and again visited England in 1856-57, where he married Henrietta Joaquina Manning on 21 July 1857. They would have four sons and four daughters.

On returning to Western Australia, Monger established himself as a merchant at York, competing against his father and brother. He later appointed Herman Moll to manage his York business, while he expanded his business into other areas of the colony, including the goldfields, and opened a head office in Perth with his brothers. He partnered with George Shenton in the shipping trade, and was interested in the sandalwood industry. Later he diversified into agriculture and pastoralism, holding large pastoral stations east of York, and in the South West, Pilbara and Kimberley region of Western Australia regions.