Robert Edwin Bush
Robert Edwin Bush | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Redland, Bristol, England |
| Died | December 29, 1939 (aged 84) |
| Occupation(s) | Explorer, entrepreneur, athlete, politician |
| Years active | 1870s–1939 |
| Known for | Exploration and pastoralism in Western Australia; member of Western Australian Legislative Council; Sheriff of Bristol; Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire |
Robert Edwin Bush (11 October 1855 – 29 December 1939) was a distinguished British figure known for his roles as an explorer, entrepreneur, athlete, and politician, particularly recognized for his impact on colonial Western Australia. Arriving there during the 1870s, he emerged as a prominent settler within the Gascoyne district, securing multiple pastoral properties. Between 1890 and 1893, Bush served on the Western Australian Legislative Council before relocating back to England, where he undertook civic responsibilities such as Sheriff of Bristol and Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.
Early life
Bush was born in Redland, Bristol, as the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Bush, who led a detachment of the 96th Infantry stationed in Western Australia during the 1840s. He was educated at Clifton College from 1865 until 1875, captaining the school’s cricket team in his final two years. From August 1874 through June 1877, Bush competed in first-class cricket representing Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, playing alongside prominent cricketers including W. G. Grace and his brother James Bush, primarily as a right-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.
Travel and life in Australia
Upon relocating to Western Australia, Bush spent eighteen months working as a jackaroo at Murgoo Station. Following a stint transporting horses to Mauritius, he undertook exploration north of the Gascoyne River between October 1879 and March 1880. He established himself as a leading pastoralist in the Gascoyne area by acquiring several sheep and cattle stations such as Bidgemia, Clifton Downs, and Mount Clere Station. Additionally, Bush participated in gold prospecting activities during the 1887 Yilgarn gold rush.
Bush contributed notably to securing land for the WACA by collaborating with partners to purchase its initial site. In 1889, he was appointed justice of the peace, and in December 1890 he became a nominated member of Western Australia's inaugural Legislative Council under responsible government, serving until his resignation in July 1893.
In January 1893, he wed Constance Harper (née Lochee), a widow who died three years afterward.
Return to England
In the early twentieth century, Bush returned to England and acquired Bishop's Knoll located at Stoke Bishop near Bristol. He married Margery Scott in 1907. By 1911, he had been appointed Sheriff of Bristol and held the presidency of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. From 1912 until his death in 1939, he acted as a director for Dalgety & Co. based in London.
During World War I, Bush transformed Bishop's Knoll into a hospital for injured soldiers at his personal expense and served as an ambulance orderly. The Bishop's Knoll War Hospital began admitting patients in late 1914 and treated numerous casualties from the Anzac forces involved in the Battle of Gallipoli, including Victoria Cross awardee John Patrick Hamilton. Following the war, Bush received recognition as a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
In 1919, Bush represented Australia at an International Red Cross conference held in Geneva. Subsequently, he became involved with both film production and broadcasting industries while continuing extensive international travel that included thirteen trips back to Western Australia. He passed away at Bishop's Knoll on 29 December 1939.