Thomas Tunnecliffe

(1870-1948)

A resident of Northcote, Victorian born Thomas Tunnecliffe was the son of Irishman John and his wife Susan. A bootmaker by trade Thomas was living in King Street, Melbourne when he first entered the Legislative Assembly for West Melbourne (1903-04). He was later the member for Eaglehawk (1907-20), then Collingwood from 1921 at the time the family was living in North Terrace, Clifton Hill. Tunnecliffe became Chief Secretary under the Prendergast Labour Ministry in 1924, Minister of Railways and Electrical Undertakings (1927-28) and Chief Secretary to the Hogan administration (1929-32). He was Acting Premier of Victoria in 1932 and subsequently Leader of the Opposition. Thomas' second wife was Bertha Louise Gross whom he married in 1913. Bertha's family rebuilt the Croxton Park Hotel in 1897. Throughout his career he was an essential part of the Socialist Movement, both in Victoria and nationally.

Butler, Graeme (1982). City of Northcote urban conservation study. Alphington: City Of Northcote.