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Was born at Overnewton near
Glasgow, where his father had a market garden, in January 1834. His mother
was a woman of great shrewdness and strength of character, much interested
in the education of her children. Gillies was sent to the high school
until he was about 14, when he entered an office in Glasgow. He emigrated
to Australia and arrived in Port Phillip in December 1852. He went to the
diggings at Ballarat, and it has been stated that he was one of the
leaders of the diggers during the troubles which culminated at the Eureka
Stockade in December 1854. This appears to be unlikely as he was little
more than 20 at the time, and his name is not included among those of the
prominent men by the historians of the period. However, in February 1858
he was elected a member of the first Ballarat mining board. In 1859 he was
selected to represent Ballarat West in the legislative assembly of
Victoria, and he was re-elected for the same constituency four times
during the next 10 years. During this period he established a reputation
in the house as a capable debater. In May 1868 he became president of the
board of land and works in the Sladen (q.v.) ministry, but on going before
the electors lost his seat. At the next election he came in for
Maryborough and in June 1872 he was commissioner of railways and roads in
the Francis (q.v.) and Kerford (q.v.) ministries from June 1872 to June
1875. He was again in office in October 1875 in the McCulloch (q.v.)
ministry as president of the board of land and works and minister of
agriculture. At the next election, held in 1877, he was returned for
Rodney, but was unseated on the ground that undue influence had been used
by the lands department by the issue of leases to electors during the
contest. The committee found, however, that this influence had been used
without the knowledge of the candidate. A new election was held in
November, when Gillies was again returned, and he retained his seat in
1880. He was minister of railways in the shortlived Service (q.v.)
ministry, and when Service returned to power in March 1883 had the same
office, and in addition was minister of public instruction. When Service
retired in February 1886 Gillies became premier and was also treasurer and
minister of railways. This government lasted nearly five years, during a
period of great confidence, and there was no doubt much extravagance.
Gillies had the reputation of being shrewd and hardheaded, but he does not
appear to have tried to check the extravagance of the time, and must take
his share of the blame for the long period of depression that began in the
early eighteen-nineties. He was for a time lukewarm on the question of
federation, and in 1889, when Parkes (q.v.) raised the question again, was
doubtful whether it was immediately practicable. However, during the
Melbourne conference of 1890, over which he presided, he became more
hopeful and agreed that the difficulties were not insuperable. Towards the
end of the year Gillies brought before the Victorian parliament a huge
railway bill involving an expenditure of about £8,000,000. Unemployment
was increasing, partly on account of a great maritime strike, but
principally because of the beginning of one of those reactions that always
follow a boom period. On 5 November 1890 the Gillies ministry resigned and
its leader never again held office. He was appointed agent-general in
London in 1894 and held the position for about three years. On his return
in 1897 he was elected to the assembly for Toorak, and in 1902 was
unanimously elected speaker. But he showed failing health and powers, and
a severe illness kept him away front the house for some months. He died on
12 September 1903. He had always been considered to be a bachelor, but
after his death it was disclosed that in 1897 he had married in London Mrs
Turquand Fillan who survived him without issue. He declined the honour of
K.C.M.G. in 1887.
Gillies for most of his
lifetime was not personally popular. He was considered reserved and
somewhat unsympathetic, but towards the end of his life, when father of
the house, he mellowed and was generally liked. As a freetrader and a
one-time working man generally voting on the conservative side, he was
much criticized by the protectionist and radical press. He originated
little legislation of importance, but was a good administrator and a man
of force of character, shrewd and honest of purpose. |
