John Wheeler (Australian politician)

John Wheeler (7 December 1853 – 18 April 1915) was an Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1889 and 1891.

He was born in Sydney to sawyer Aaron Wheeler and Elizabeth Hawkins. He began work in 1870 for a coal company in Newcastle, eventually becoming a general manager. On 7 August 1878 he married Hannah Clarke, with whom he had seven children. He served as an alderman at Petersham, and was mayor from 1886 to 1890.[1]

At the 1887 election for Canterbury he was one of nine Free Trade candidates for the four seats of the district of Canterbury, but was unsuccessful.[2] At the 1889 election there were only four Free Trade candidates, including Wheeler, and all four were elected.[3] For the 1891 election Wheeler was again one of four candidates nominated by the party, while a fifth candidate, James Eve, had the support of the local branch.[4] The election was close with only 105 votes separating Thomas Bavister elected 2nd and Eve in 5th place, five votes behind Wheeler.[5] Eve lodged a petition against the election of Wheeler.[6] The Elections and Qualifications Committee conducted a re-count which overturned the result and declared that Eve had been elected.[7][5]

Wheeler did not return to state politics, but was again an alderman at Persham Council and was mayor from 1912 to 1914. He died at Strathfield in 1915.[1][8]