Michael Durack
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| Michael Durack | |
| Born | July 22, 1865 Grabben Gullen, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Died | September 3, 1950 Perth, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | St Patrick's College, Goulburn |
| Occupation | Politician, Western Australian pioneer |
| Spouse | Bessie Ida Muriel Johnstone |
| Children | Kim Durack, Mary Durack, Elizabeth Durack (six total) |
| Parents | Partick & Mary Durack |
Michael Patrick Durack, (July 22, 1865 – September 3, 1950) was a pastoralist, and Western Australian pioneer. He was the son of Patrick Durack[1]
Durack was educated at St Patricks College, Goulburn along with his brother, John Wallace. In 1882-83, his family went on an expedition to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. On his 21st birthday, he made the first sale of Kimberley cattle to a Halls Creek butcher for £1200 in raw gold.[1]
In 1894, a new shipping trade was established by Francis Connor and Denis Doherty from Wyndham to Perth. The Durack family became one of the main supplier in this market, and eventually merged with their shipping agents to form Connor, Doherty & Durack Ltd, which controlled nearly 600sq miles of property on the Western Australia-Northern Territory border. His firm would be a major influence on the Kimberley pastrol industry for the next fifty years.[1]
He negotiated a shipment of 3612 cattle to Natal in 1902, which was long hailed a record overseas consignment of live cattle.[1]
In 1917, he entered the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the Country Party member for the Kimberley. He came discontented with the Mitchell government, and in 1920 joined the Country Party, subsequently retiring from politics in 1924.[1]
He died on September 3, 1950 and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.[1]
