By Grace Wiese
Born: August 22, 1847 Died: September 2, 1918
Further than any other politician in Australia, John Forrest was the main leader of his colony. He became first premier of WA in 1890. Although John Forrest was not very clever, he was honest, he was good at his job and a believed in a great future for Western Australia. He supported many changes so that his colony could become more advanced and reliable.
John Forrest was one of the many supporters for Federation but he was worried that his colony would fall when the duties on goods from the eastern colonies were stopped. Many of John Forrest’s supporters were against Federation for the same reason John Forrest was worried. The diggers on the goldfields wanted Federation and they said if John Forrest did not let them vote on it, they would separate from Western Australia and join Australia.
John Forrest did allow a vote on Federation. The colony voted 'Yes'. He was then elected to the Commonwealth Parliament and became minister of defence in Edmund Barton's government. Forrest was also an explorer and land surveyor. In 1869 he searched for the lost explorer Ludwig Leichhardt and surveyed the land whilst he was doing this.
Born: August 22, 1847 Died: September 2, 1918
1847 - 1918