Thomas Hassall


Thomas Henry Hassall was an Anglo-Australian politician.

Early life

Born on 11 September 1844 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School.

Australia

Hassall arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1861 on board the White Start liner. He made his way up to Lambing Flat, New South Wales and after working in the interior as a miner, drover and contractor, settled in Moree, New South Wales in 1867. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1886 for the Electoral district of Gwydir, until its first abolition in 1894, and represented the replacement Electoral district of Moree until 1901. Hassall held the portfolio for Lands in New South Wales in the Lyne Ministry, from 1899 to 1901.

South Africa

In 1901 Hassall moved to South Africa. He was associated with the Federal Cold Storage but deciding on a quiet life, he became a country hotel keeper in Natal. In 1915 he settled at Chelmsford Hotel, Tongaat, on the Natal north coast.
After a long illness, he died on Tuesday 17 February 1920, at his residence, Chelmsford Hotel, and was buried at Verulam Cemetery.