John Russell Walter (23 June, 1863 – 27 June, 1944) was an Australian farmer and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

from 1903 to 1904, representing the seat of Nelson. Walter was born in Bishop's Hull,

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, England. In February 1881, at 17 years of age, he entered into the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

, where, like his brother William, he competed in bicycle races as a member of the Oxford University Cycling Club. After leaving school, he lived in Canada for a period, spending two years at the Ontario Agricultural College in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

.John Russell Walter
– Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 May 2016. He migrated to Western Australia in 1887,"INTERESTING HISTORY OF BRIDGETOWN PIONEERS"
– ''The Blackwood Times'' (

Bunbury, Western Australia Bunbury () is a coastal city in the Australian state of Western Australia, approximately south of the state capital, Perth. It is the state's third most populous city after Perth and Mandurah, with a population of approximately 75,000. Loca ...

), 31 December 1953. joining his older brother, William Ardagh Gardner Walter (later a well-known magistrate). After a few months near Busselton, Walter acquired a property near Bridgetown, where he farmed sheep. He was elected to the Nelson Road Board in 1901, and served until 1909, including as chairman for several periods. Following the death of Sir James Lee-Steere in December 1903, Walter was nominated for his vacant seat of Nelson, and was elected unopposed. Once in parliament, he sat as a Ministerialist (an opponent of the government of Walter James)."W.A. PARLIAMENT."
– '' Kalgoorlie Miner'', 16 December 1903. However, Walter's time in parliament was short-lived, as he did not nominate for the 1904 state election. He recontested Nelson at the 1905 election, but was unsuccessful in regaining his seat, losing to his successor,

Charles Layman Charles Henry Layman (4 June 1865 – 23 March 1926) was an Australian politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1904 to 1914, representing the seat of Nelson. Layman was born in Wonnerup (a rural loca ...

. After leaving parliament, Walter remained active in local affairs in Bridgetown, serving as a justice of the peace and as president of the local agricultural society. He died in June 1944, aged 81.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walter, John 1863 births 1944 deaths Australian Anglicans British emigrants to colonial Australia British expatriates in Canada Mayors of places in Western Australia Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Ontario Agricultural College alumni People from Taunton Deane (district) People educated at Christian Brothers' College, Perth Western Australian local councillors