James Chataway


James Vincent Chataway was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Biography

Chataway was born in Warwickshire, England, the son of James Chataway and his wife Elizabeth and was educated at Winchester College. He was at first destined for the Indian civil service but after a period of ill-health this was abandoned and he instead headed to Australia, arriving in 1873.
After his arrival he was in Victoria and New South Wales getting pastoral experience before arriving in Queensland where he worked as an auctioneer and owned a livery stable. He then took up an interest in Eton Plantation in the Mackay region before taking up the role as editor of the Mackay Mercury in 1883 and three years later owner of the newspaper. In 1892 he established the Mackay Sugar Journal and Tropical Cultivator.
On 8 December 1882 Chataway married Jessie Carlyle Little and together had two sons and two daughters. He died in April 1901 and was buried in the Church of England Cemetery, Ormiston.

Public career

Chataway, representing the Ministerialists, became the junior member in the 2 member electorate of Mackay at the 1893 Queensland colonial election. He represented Mackay until his death in 1901. During his time in parliament he held the following ministerial portfolios:
A number of street names in the Brisbane suburb of Carina Heights are identical to the surnames of former Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. One of these is Chataway Street.