Charles Moran (Australian politician)


Charles John Moran was an Australian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1894 to 1901 and again from 1902 to 1905. He was a minister in the government of George Throssell.

Early life

Moran was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, to Irish parents. He was educated at Catholic schools in Toowoomba and Brisbane, and matriculated to the University of Sydney, although he did not complete a degree there. Moran moved to Western Australia in 1890, and initially worked as an apprentice to architect Andrea Stombuco, superintending part of the construction of the General Post Office Building in Perth. He left for the Eastern Goldfields in 1893, working for a water supply contractor, and subsequently participated in the abortive Siberia rush.

Politics

Moran stood for parliament at the 1894 general election, aged 25, and was elected to the new seat of Yilgarn. His opponent was Lancel de Hamel, who had been in parliament since 1889. At the 1897 election, Moran transferred to the new seat of East Coolgardie. When George Throssell replaced Sir John Forrest as premier in early 1901, he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands in his new ministry. However, Throssell's government lasted for little more than three months before he was replaced as premier by George Leake, and Moran was not retained as a minister.
At the 1901 election, the seat of East Coolgardie was abolished, and Moran unsuccessfully attempted to transfer to the new seat of Kalgoorlie. He was defeated by the Labor candidate, William Johnson. Later in the year, Moran also contested the West Kimberley by-election, but was defeated by Sydney Pigott. Moran eventually re-entered parliament at the 1902 West Perth by-election, which had been caused by the death of the premier, George Leake. He was re-elected at the 1904 state election, but at the 1905 election attempted to transfer to the seat of Perth. He was unsuccessful, losing to the sitting member, Harry Brown.

Later life

In 1907, Moran purchased a farm in Wagin. He subsequently became prominent in agricultural circles, and was a trustee of the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia from 1921 to 1930. Moran died in Perth in 1936, aged 68. He had married Elizabeth Healy in 1895, with whom he had three sons and three daughters.