Obituaries Australia

Charles Piesse, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 15 August 1914

Mr. Charles Austin Piesse, a member in the Legislative Council for the South-east Province of Western Australia, died in Perth last month after five weeks' illness.

The late Mr. Piesse was Western Australian born, and he has left his mark in the history of his native land. Born at Northam on 11th November 1855, he was the second son of the late Mr. William Roper Piesse, of Toodyay. He was educated at Guildford and Northam, and subsequently proceeded to the pearling grounds at Shark Bay, where he was engaged during 1872-3. However, he soon returned to the south, and turned his energies in the direction of agricultural pursuits until 1880, when, in conjunction with his brother, the late Mr. F. H. Piesse, C.M.G., he established at Williams the mercantile firm of Messrs. F. and C. Piesse, which was successfully carried on for twenty-four years. In 1903 the late Mr. C. A. Piesse severed his connection with the firm, but continued in business at Wagin with his sons, combining with mercantile enterprise the work of agricultural development. He was successful in founding the fine agricultural and pastoral estates of Arthur River, now owned and managed by his three sons, and Tillellan.

In June 1894, he was elected to the Legislative Council to represent the South-east Province, and sat continuously in that capacity up to the time of his death. He was untiring in his advocacy of agricultural potentialities of the State, and the requirements of the farming community. He was twice married, his first wife being a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Chipper, of Kojonup, and his second wife a daughter of the late Mr. John Hickson, of Port Pirie, South Australia.