George Fairbairn (Australian politician)

Sir George Fairbairn
Member of the Australian Parliament for Fawkner
In office 12 December 1906 – 31 May 1913
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Joseph Hannan
Senator for Victoria
In office 1 July 1917 – 30 June 1923
Personal details
Born	(1855-03-23)23 March 1855 Geelong, Victoria
Died	23 October 1943(1943-10-23) (aged 88) Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Independent (1906–09) Liberal (1909–17) Nationalist (1917–22)
Spouse(s)	1) Jessie Kate Prell 2) Lorna Bessie
Relations	David Fairbairn (grandson) James Fairbairn (nephew) Steve Fairbairn (brother)
Alma mater	Cambridge University
Occupation	Farmer

Sir George Fairbairn (23 March 1855 – 23 October 1943) was a pastoralist and Australian politician.

Fairbairn was born in Geelong, Victoria and educated at Geelong Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He rowed for Jesus College Boat Club in 1875 and 1876, the first two years of an 11-year stretch up to 1885 when it won the Cambridge head of the river races. His younger brother Steve went on to become an influential rowing coach at the club. Fairbairn returned to Australia in 1876 and in the following years managed Peak Downs and Barcaldine stations in Queensland. He married Jessie Kate Prell in November 1880 and they had a son and a daughter. In 1890, he took over the family farm at Lara, Victoria and subsequently acquired other farms in Victoria and New South Wales and developed numerous business interests. He was president of the Employers' Federation of Australia for six years.

In 1903 Fairbairn was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Toorak which he held until 1906 when he resigned to contest the newly created seat of Fawkner in the Australian House of Representatives. Fairbairn won Fawkner at the 1906 election. Fairbairn was endorsed by the Anti-Socialists, but campaigned as an independent Protectionist. He did not sit with the Anti-Socialists.

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