| Sir James MacBain1828-1892
President: 1884-1892 Legislative Assembly: 1864-1880 Legislative Council: 1880-1892
MacBain's first term in the Victorian parliament was in the Legislative Assembly, when he won the seat of Wimmera in 1864. He held the seat until early 1880, consistently opposing the McCulloch ministry and the extension of railways to Gippsland. He then resigned due to pressure of work and entered the Legislative Council later that year as member for Central Province. During his time in Parliament MacBain was a director of several companies, and also acquired pastoral interests near Kilmore and in the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan districts. Between 1881 and 1883 MacBain was a minister without portfolio in the O'Loghlen government and in 1884 he became President of the Legislative Council. He was knighted in 1886, and continued as a member (for Central Province, which became South Yarra Province in 1882) and as President until his death at Toorak in 1892. He was survived by his wife and by a nephew whom he had adopted. |
James
MacBain was born in Scotland. In his early years he was indentured to a draper, and then
worked as a commercial traveller. In 1853 he married Jessie Smith and they emigrated to
Melbourne where he worked for the Bank of New South Wales. After a visit to England in
1857 MacBain became managing partner of the mercantile and pastoral agency Gibbs, Ronald
& Co. He continued his association with the firm when it amalgamated with Richards
Gibbs & Co. in 1863 and when it was purchased by the Australian Mortgage (Mercantile)
Land and Finance Co., eventually becoming chairman and managing director.