NOW & THEN BOOK

Frederick and Charles Piesse
Frederick Henry Piesse
Frederick Henry Piesse, CMG (6 December 1853 – 29 June 1912) was a farmer, businessman and politician who
is credited with much of the early development of the region around Katanning, Western Australia.
Frederick was born at Northam, Western Australia, on 6 December 1853, the son of policeman and magistrate
William Roper Piesse and Elizabeth Ellen née Oxley. Among his brothers were Alfred, Arnold and Charles, all of
whom would follow Frederick into politics. Piesse was educated at state schools at Guildford and Northam, and
began his working life at the Northam general store. He later went pearl fishing at Shark Bay between 1872 and
1875. He was postmaster and telegraphist at Williams between 1875 and 1880. On 18 October 1877 he married
Mary Jane Elizabeth Chipper, with whom he would have four sons and a daughter.
In 1880, Piesse partnered with his brother Charles to launch the general produce firm of F. & C. Piesse at
Williams. He set up a portable store in 1886, and followed the progress of the Great Southern Railway, finishing
up at Katanning. He then bought agricultural land near the railway and, in 1891, built the flour mill in Katanning.
He established a wine industry, making wines that won awards in Perth, London and Paris.
From 1880 onward, Piesse became increasingly involved in public affairs. He was a member of the Williams Road
Board from 1880 to 1889, and its chairman from 1886. In 1889 he became a Justice of the Peace, and from 1889
to 1896 he was on the Katanning Road Board. From January 1894 to June 1896 he was also a member of the
Board of Agriculture. At the 1890 election, Piesse was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
seat of Williams, becoming a member of the first Parliament of Western Australia under responsible government.
From 1 April 1896 to 23 August 1900, he was Commissioner for Railways and Director of Public Works in the
Forrest Ministry. He was a Western Australian delegate to the Federal Convention of 1897 and, for a period in
1900, he was Acting Premier of Western Australia. During George Leake’s first premiership from June to
November 1901, Piesse was Leader of the Opposition.
In the 1904 election, Piesse stood for and won the new seat of Katanning. He would hold the seat until his resignation
on 26 October 1909. For his last four years in parliament he was Father of the House. Piesse was made a
CMG in 1908. He died at Katanning on 29 June 1912, and was buried in Katanning Cemetery.
Frederick Henry Piesse
Charles Austin Piesse
Charles Austin Piesse (11 November 1855 – 13 July 1914) was an Australian businessman and politician who
served as a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1894 until his death. He was a minister in
the government of Newton Moore.
Piesse was born in Northam, Western Australia and after leaving school, Piesse was briefly involved in the
pearling trade at Shark Bay with his brother Frederick, later purchasing a farm near Williams. In 1880, he went into
business with his brother Frederick and formed the firm of F. &. C. Piesse.
In 1887, Piesse was elected as the first chairman of the newly created Arthur Roads Board, serving in the position
until 1890. He was elected to parliament at the 1894 Legislative Council elections, as a representative of the
South-East Province. After his initial two-year term, Piesse was re-elected to six-year terms in 1896, 1902, 1908,
and 1914. From 1906 to 1907, he served as a minister without portfolio in the ministry of Newton Moore.[1] Piesse
died in Perth in July 1914. He had married twice, having nine children by his first wife (Martha Chipper) and three
by his second (Flora Hickson). One of his daughters-in-law, Winifred Piesse, was also an MP.
Charles Austin Piesse