John Rout Hopkins
John Rout Hopkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Hobart, Tasmania |
| Died | December 20, 1897 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Pastoralist, politician |
| Years active | 1864–1894 (politics) |
| Known for | "Father of the Local Government Act", Mayor of Geelong (1892–1893) |
John Rout Hopkins (18 August 1828 – 20 December 1897) was a prominent pastoralist and political figure within the Colony of Victoria.
History
Originally from Hobart, Tasmania, John was the son of Henry and Sarah (née Rout) Hopkins. He relocated to Victoria to oversee his father's estate, Murdeduke, situated near Winchelsea, Victoria and Geelong. In 1850, he expanded his land assets by purchasing St Stephen's and River stations, and during 1854–55, he took possession of the Mount Hesse run, thereby accumulating considerable wealth. He wed Eliza Ann Armytage, and together they had six sons and seven daughters; among their children, daughter Eliza Mary Ann married Samuel Thomas Staughton Sr. in 1874.
Hopkins dedicated thirteen years to the Barrabool Shire Council, where he was its inaugural president, and spent thirty-two years on the Winchelsea Shire Council, serving as president on three occasions. His political career included election to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1864, with multiple terms extending until 1894. Although he seldom spoke in parliamentary sessions, he was a fervent supporter of reforms in local governance, earning him recognition as the "Father of the Local Government Act." Additionally, he held the office of Mayor of Geelong from 1892 to 1893.
Renowned for his social activities and extravagant hospitality, Hopkins entered into two subsequent marriages: first with Susan Emily Rucker in 1888 and later with Alice Roberta Purkiss in 1892. He passed away on 20 December 1897 at his residence in St Kilda and was interred in the Armytage family vault located at Geelong Eastern Cemetery.