Sir William Haslem EDGAR
Member for East Yarra Province (July 1917 – June 1948)
Non-Labor, Nationalist Party, United Australia Party
MLC for Melbourne West (June 1904 – June 1913)
Estate Agent. Born 21 January 1858, St Arnaud. Son of Edward Haslem and Mary Haslem, both born in Ireland. Married 1887 to Elizabeth Cecelia Bingley; one son; re-married 4 June 1935 Sarah Castles nee Nicholas. Deceased 6 June 1948.
Educated at: St Arnaud public school, Stawell Grammar School. Employed five years in Melbourne warehouse; draper at Dunolly; estate agent Melbourne from c.1888; president Edith Cavell Trust; honorary treasurer Traveller’s Aid Society and RVIB; founder 1908 and president Malvern Horticultural Society; member Anti-Sweating League; philanthropist; ardent prohibitionist and Sabbatarian; visited South Africa 1929; attended coronation 1937; Freemason; Methodist lay preacher and founder of weekly prayer meetings Melbourne Town Hall 1916; JP.
Dunolly borough councillor 1885-86, Malvern City councillor 1902-09, mayor 1906-07.
Non-Labor, Nationalist Party, United Australia Party. Business Partner of A.E. Chandler (q.v.) Brother of Rev. Andrew Robert Edgar, missionary.
MLC for Melbourne West June 1904-June 1913 (defeated), MLC for East Yarra July 1917 (by-election)-June 1948; contested East Bourke Assembly District 1889, 1892, 1894, East Yarra Province by-election 1913, Gippsland Province 1916. Minister without Portfolio June 1909-February 1912. Minister of Public Works and of Health February 1912-June 1913. Chairman of Committees July 1922-June 1943. Racecourses and Race Meetings committee 1928.
