Robert Byrne (Australian politician)

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Robert Byrne (1821 – 24 March 1909) was a Victorian politician who served as Treasurer of Victoria from September 1869 to January 1870. Born in Waterford, Ireland, he was the son of Robert Byrne. He left Ireland for New York City in 1848 and worked as a general auctioneer there and in Boston. In late 1852 he moved to Victoria, arriving in Melbourne. In February 1853 he began auctioneering at Sandridge (now Port Melbourne) and later took part in local government before Melbourne became a separate municipality. In 1864 he ran for the Legislative Assembly seat of Sandridge as a Liberal but was defeated by three votes and lost on petition; soon after he was elected for Crowlands by a large margin. In 1869, when Sir James McCulloch left the House, Byrne helped pass a motion criticizing the Government, which contributed to a new ministry on 20 September 1869 with John MacPherson as Chief Secretary and Byrne as Treasurer. When Byrne sought re-election he was defeated by George Rolfe and left office on 21 January 1870, replaced by Graham Berry. He later unsuccessfully contested Central Province in 1878, Melbourne Province in 1888, and Avoca in 1880. Byrne died in Richmond, Victoria, aged 88.