This is a list of the members of the Australian Senate in the First Australian Parliament, which was elected on 29 March 1901.Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive, Senate 1903 National summary NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas and appointments. Retrieved 27 February 2017. There were 36 senators in this initial parliament. Terms were deemed to start on 1 January 1901. In accordance with section 13 of the Constitution,Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (Imp) Part II the Senate. the Senate resolved that in each State the three senators who received the most votes would sit for a six-year term, finishing on 31 December 1906 while the other half would sit for a three-year term, finishing on 31 December 1903. The process for filing of casual vacancies was complex, with an initial appointment followed by an election. The status of political parties varied, being national, State based, and informal.
George Pearce, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the 1901-1903 Senate. Robert Best was the last surviving Protectionist member, and John Clemons was the last surviving Free Trade member.
Senators Image Member Party State Term expiry Term start Term end Portfolio Notes Free Trade South Australia 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 President of the Senate from 9 May 1901 to 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Retired Labour Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 1903 Previously held the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Carlton South. Lost seat Protectionist 1903 31 December 1903 Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Chairman of Committees from 9 May 1901 to 31 December 1903 Previously held the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Fitzroy. Re-elected Protectionist Tasmania 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 31 December 1903 Lost seat. Later re-elected to the Senate in 1906 Free Trade South Australia 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 31 December 1903 Previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Lost seat Free Trade Tasmania 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 5 September 1914 Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate from 21 May 1901 to 21 November 1907 Re-elected Labour Queensland 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Charters Towers. Lost seat Labour Western Australia 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1923 Re-elected Free Trade Tasmania 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Brighton. Re-elected Protectionist South Australia 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 31 December 1903 Previously held the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Barossa. Retired. Later elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1905 Protectionist Queensland 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Postmaster-General from 5 February 1901 to 10 August 1903 Minister for Defence from 10 August 1903 to 24 September 1903 Attorney-General from 24 September 1903 to 27 April 1904 Previously a member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Lost preselection and retired Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 17 April 1903 Previously held the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Swan. Resigned to focus on legal practice. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin in 1909 Free Trade Queensland 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 6 October 1903 Simultaneously a member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Seat made vacant due to prolonged absence without permission. Oldest member of the 1901-1903 Senate Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1913 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Re-elected Protectionist Queensland 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 31 December 1903 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Bundaberg. Lost seat Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1917 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Singleton. Re-elected Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 31 December 1903 Retired. Later elected to the British House of Commons seat of South Shields in 1922 Labour Queensland 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Fortitude Valley. Lost seat. Later elected to the Division of Capricornia in 1910 Protectionist Tasmania 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 30 June 1923 Chief Government Whip in the Senate from 30 April 1902 to 5 July 1905 Re-elected. Youngest member of the 1901-1903 Senate Free Trade Tasmania 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Re-elected Protectionist New South Wales 31 December 1903 8 October 1903 30 November 1903 Previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Resigned to return to the Legislative Council after deciding not to contest the 1903 federal election Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Retired Labour South Australia 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 13 August 1914 Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 20 May 1901 to 13 August 1914 Leader of the Labour Party in the Senate from 20 May 1901 to 13 August 1914 Previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Re-elected Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 14 September 1923 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Bourke. Re-elected Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Paddington. Re-elected Protectionist New South Wales 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 27 September 1903 Vice-President of the Executive Council from 1 January 1901 to 24 September 1903 Leader of the Government in the Senate from 9 May 1901 to 24 September 1903 Leader of the Protectionist Party in the Senate from 9 May 1901 to 24 September 1903 Previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Resigned in order to become a Justice of the High Court Protectionist Tasmania 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 May 1901 Lost seat. Later re-elected to the Senate in 1910 Labour May 1901 31 December 1906 Labour Western Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1938 Re-elected. Last surviving member of the 1901-1903 Senate Protectionist South Australia 31 December 1906 30 March 1901 31 December 1906 Vice-President of the Executive Council from 24 September 1903 to 27 April 1904 Leader of the Government in the Senate from 24 September 1903 to 27 April 1904 Leader of the Protectionist Party in the Senate from 24 September 1903 to 31 December 1906 Previously held the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Gumeracha. Lost seat Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 30 June 1910 Previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Re-elected Free Trade Victoria 31 December 1903 21 January 1903 31 December 1903 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Retired Free Trade Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 2 January 1903 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Died in office Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1903 20 May 1903 31 December 1903 Previously a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Lost seat. Later elected to the Legislative Council in 1918 Free Trade Western Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Retired Labour Queensland 31 December 1903 30 March 1901 30 June 1917 Chief Labour Whip in the Senate from 21 May 1901 to 29 April 1904 Previously held the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Rockhampton North. Re-elected Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1903 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously held the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Williamstown. Lost seat Free Trade South Australia 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1913 Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 6 June 1901 to 18 August 1904 Leader of the Free Trade Party in the Senate from 6 June 1901 to 21 November 1907 Previously held the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Sturt. Re-elected Free Trade New South Wales 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 30 June 1913 Re-elected Protectionist Victoria 31 December 1906 29 March 1901 31 December 1906 Previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Retired
Notes
References