Former
Speakers

William Hugh Everard
1869-1950
Speaker: 1934-1937
Legislative Assembly: 1917-1950

William Everard was the son of John Everard, who had been a member of the first Legislative Assembly. He was born at East Melbourne, educated at Scotch College, and became a partner in and eventually proprietor of the family firm of tea merchants, Everard Brothers.

In 1904 he married Hannah Clarissa Smith. He entered parliament as the Nationalist member of the Legislative Assembly for Evelyn in 1917, and held the seat until his death in 1950, being successively identified with the Nationalists, the Economy Party, the United Australia Party, the Liberals and the Liberal Country Party. In 1929-31 he was a member of the Committee of Public Accounts, and in 1932-34 he was chairman of committees.

In 1934 he was elected Speaker and retained the position until 1937. In 1945 he was briefly a minister in the McFarlan 'caretaker' government. He died at Kew and was survived by his five children.