James Connolly (Australian politician)

Connolly was born in Allora, Queensland, to Irish Catholic parents. He was initially schooled at Warwick, but later attended St Joseph's College, Brisbane, before training as a quantity surveyor. Connolly went to the Western Australian Goldfields in 1893, working as a building contractor, and in 1899 was elected to the Kalgoorlie Town Council.[1]

In 1901, Connolly stood in a by-election for the Legislative Council, and was elected to replace Alexander Matheson in North-East Province.[2] He was appointed to the ministry in 1906, when Newton Moore replaced Hector Rason as premier, becoming Colonial Secretary and Minister for Commerce and Labour. He continued as Colonial Secretary when Frank Wilson became premier in September 1910, serving until the Wilson government lost power at the 1911 state election.[1]

In early 1914, Connolly resigned from the Legislative Council in order to contest the Legislative Assembly at the 1914 election. He defeated the sitting Labor member, Walter Dwyer, in the seat of Perth, running for the new Liberal Party.[2] In July 1916, Frank Wilson became premier for a second time, and Connolly was appointed an honorary minister in the new ministry.[1]

Connolly resigned from parliament in June 1917 to accept the position of Agent-General for Western Australia, representing the state government in London. Knighted in 1920 for his services, he continued as agent-general until 1923, and during his period in office assisted in the creation of the Group Settlement Scheme. Connolly was Agent-General for Malta from 1929 to 1932,[1] and during that time helped promoted Maltese immigration to Australia.[3] He remained in London until his death in February 1962 (aged 92), serving as a director of various companies and banks. He had married Catherine Charlotte Edwards in 1898, with whom he had five daughters.[1]