In 1874 a former resident of our district, E.H.Cameron, was elected as M.L.A. for Evelyn. At that time the electorate of Evelyn included Warrandyte and after a rearrangement in 1889, it also included Doncaster and Templestowe.
Cameron arrived in Melbourne in 1853 at the age of 22. He had come from Kilmonivaig, Inverness, Scotland. He first worked with his brothers in the building industry before going to Warrandyte. Cameron purchased the Diamond Accommodation Store. At that time the Anderson's Creek Gold Field was still a canvas town and the store was a large tent, with flags flying over the top. When the land sales were held he bought a block near the corner of Webb Street and built a permanent building. In August 1857 a post office was opened in the store and E. H. Cameron became our first postmaster.
Cameron ran another store across the river in the mining town of Queenstown, and then in 1863 took up a 100-acre farm at Kangaroo Ground. His farm "Pigeonbank", which is still standing, became a show place and was awarded the prize for the best kept farm in the district.
In 1867, Ewen Cameron married Agnes, the youngest daughter of Eltham pioneer John Belle. Agnes Cameron was a small charming woman, who made up for her size with great dignity. She was well liked and as the wife of a Cabinet Minister became respected not only in the district but also in Melbourne. In "Pioneers and Painters", her granddaughter described a shopping trip to the city. When her cab drew up outside Robertsons and Moffetts in Bourke Streets; the doorman would throw open the door where a floor-walker in striped trousers and frock coat would usher her to a chair. She did not go to departments, deferential salesmen would bring goods for her selection to where she was seated.
Cameron held his position of M.L.A for Evelyn till his retirement in 1874. He was an enthusiastic hardworking member. After only two years in office, the residents of Anderson's Creek held a meeting to show their appreciation for his help in the progress of the town. It Was due to his efforts that both the school and the bridge were built.
During 1894-1902 and again in 1909-1914 Cameron was a member o:f the Railway Standing Committee. He was very concerned that there was no train to many fertile areas. Much of the development in Victorian Railways at that time was due to his untiring work. Cameron had an impressive parliamentary record. He was Minister of Mines and Water Supply 1902-1904, and Minister of Public Health from 1904. From 1904 to 1908 he was Vice-President of the Board of Land and Works. He took part in the Royal Commission on Aborigines (1877) and was Chairman of the Board of Enquiry into Coranderek Aboriginal Station (1888) and did much to rectify conditions there.
Cameron was a member of the Eltham Roads Board and Shire for 50 years, being the first Shire President, and for 52 years a representative for St. Andrews on the Castlemaine Mining Board. Pike stated that "The tenure of these two positions unchallenged, probably constituted a record unequalled in public life in Australia."
Ewen Cameron had a long and active life in parliament. He was not thought to be an eloquent speaker, but commanded high respect in the Assembly for his sincerity. He retired in November 1914 and died in the following year.
Bernadette Waldron & Irvine Green writing in 1976 11 DTHS Newsletter
Cameron, Ewen Hugh (1831–1915)
Ewen Hugh Cameron (1831-1915), farmer and politician, was born on 24 July 1831 at Kilmonivaig, Inverness, Scotland, son of Donald Cameron, farmer, and his wife Ann. He migrated to Melbourne in the Hurricane in 1853, and engaged in the building industry before going to the newly-opened Anderson Creek goldfield in 1855. The diggings proved unprofitable and Cameron had to take contracts as well as mine his own claim. He was appointed first postmaster at Warrandyte in January 1857 and ran a store; in 1860 he took up a hundred-acre (40 ha) farm at Kangaroo Ground.In 1874 Cameron was returned for Evelyn to the Victorian Legislative Assembly; he held the seat continuously until 1914 when, as 'Father of the House', he retired. He entered parliament at a difficult time; he stoutly opposed the reform movement led by Graham Berry and was often in strife with his electors; but in the elections of 1877 he easily defeated the Berry candidate. Cameron was minister of mines in the Irvine government of 1902 and health in the Bent ministry of 1904. In 1877 he served in a royal commission on the Aboriginals and in 1881 as chairman of a board of inquiry into the Coranderrk station he did much to rectify conditions there. More notably he was chairman of the Railways Standing Committee. Much of the development in Victorian railways at that time was due to his untiring work.
Though Cameron was not eloquent and therefore never seriously considered for premier, his sincerity enabled him to keep out of factional squabbles and won him unusually high respect in the assembly. For fifty-two years he represented St Andrews on the Castlemaine Mining Board and for more than fifty years was a member of the Eltham Roads Board (later Shire Council); his tenure of both positions was never contested, a record probably unequalled in public life in Australia. In 1867 he married Agnes, eldest daughter of John Bell, a farmer at Kangaroo Ground; they had eight sons and three daughters. Cameron died at Kangaroo Ground on 27 September 1915.
Select Bibliography
- A. Sutherland et al, Victoria and its Metropolis, vol 2 (Melb, 1888)
- J. Smith (ed), The Cyclopedia of Victoria, vol 1 (Melb, 1903)
- Weekly Times (Melbourne), 24 Nov 1900, 9 Jan 1909
- Argus (Melbourne), 28 Sept 1915.
Louis R. Cranfield, 'Cameron, Ewen Hugh (1831–1915)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cameron-ewen-hugh-3149/text4699, published first in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 18 August 2017.
Ewen Hugh Cameron
Ewen Hugh Cameron (24 July 1831 – 27 September 1915) was a builder, store-keeper and politician in colonial Victoria (state of Victoria post 1901), member for Evelyn in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1874 to 1914.[1]Born in Kilmonivaig, Inverness-shire, Scotland, the son of Donald and Ann Cameron, Ewen Cameron arrived in Melbourne in 1853 and was engaged in the building industry with his brothers.[1] He was a storekeeper at Anderson's Creek and Caledonia gold-diggings, a postmaster at Warrandyte in 1857 and farmed at Kangaroo Ground from 1860.[1] Cameron was a member of the Castlemaine mining board and Eltham road board. He was the inaugural Eltham shire president in 1871 and president again later several times.[1]
Cameron was Minister Mines and Water Supply from 10 June 1902 to 16 February 1904; Minister for Public Health, commissioner Public Works, vice-president Board Land & Works from 16 February 1904 to 31 October 1908.[1]
References
"Ewen Hugh Cameron". Re-member (Past Members). Parliament of Victoria.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewen_Hugh_Cameron . AUG2017
Ewen Hugh Cameron
Parents: Donald, farmer, and Ann
Marriage: 1867 Kangaroo Ground, Agnes Bell; 8s. 3d.
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Presbyterian
Career: Arrived Melbourne 1853 and engaged in building industry with brothers; storekeeper Anderson's Creek and Caledonia diggings; postmaster Warrandyte 1857; farming Kangaroo Ground from 1860. Member Castlemaine mining board, Eltham road board.; First Eltham shire president 1871, and several times later
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/
https://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/ewen-hugh-cameron_283133
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