Sydney Smith (Australian politician)

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The Hon. Sydney Smith (11 April 1856-21 February 1934) was an early leading Australian politician.

Born in Colyton, near Penrith, New South Wales, Smith was educated at public schools before gaining work with the railways. Following his marriage in 1879, Smith turned to auctioneering and grazing before following his brother, Thomas Richard, into parliament.

Smith was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1882, representing the electorate of East Macquarie, before transferring to the neighbouring electorate of Bathurst in 1894. Described as “tall, spare and bearded” but "not renowned for his oratory skills", the non-smoking teetotaller was made Minister for Mines by Henry Parkes in 1889 and the inaugural Minister for Agriculture in 1890, in which position he founded Hawkesbury Agricultural College. He also found the time to serve as Mayor of Leichardt Municipal Council from 1888-89.

Smith lost his seat by 103 votes at the 1898 New South Wales election when he ran on what many considered to be an anti-federalist stance and ran unsuccessfully against Edmund Barton for the electorate of Hastings-Mackay in a by-election later that same year before returning to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in a by-election for the seat of Canterbury on 9 June 1900. However, his victory (by five votes) was declared void and Smith was defeated at the subsequently reheld by-election on 28 July 1900.

While not a parliamentarian, Smith served on the executive of the Free Trade Party and began planning his campaign for a seat in the new federal parliament. He decided to contest the Division of Macquarie at the first federal election in 1901 but was given little chance of victory by observers and the local press, who pointed to his earlier anti-federal views and his recent electoral losses as proof that he exercised little influence amongst the electorate. Smith however gained the endorsement of the local branch of the influential Loyal Orange Lodge and the support of Free Trade Party leader George Reid, who enjoyed a large personal support amongst voters.

Following his election, Smith served as a senior member of the Free Trade Party in opposition before helping to engineer the downfall of the Chris Watson government and its replacement by George Reid as Prime Minister. Widely considered Reid’s most faithful henchman during his time in parliament, Smith was made Postmaster-General by Reid but retired from political life following his defeat at the 1906 elections.

Smith died in Sydney on 21 February 1934, preceded by his wife and youngest son, killed during the Gallipoli landings. Smith’s eldest son, also named Sydney, served as President of the New South Wales Cricket Association from 1935-66.