Battles in the bush - David Drummond and the rise of the Progressive Party

David Drummond, Inverell, 1910s. The young share farmer was not expected to be elected to Parliament in March 1920, but with what was described as support from a handful of cockies and a newspaper he was.

Back in May 2020 I began an Armidale Express series on the history of the country press in NSW with a particular focus on New England. It seemed an appropriate time given that the combination of existing trends with the impact of covid-19 was likely to complete destruction of the press that we had known, a press whose role and influence had already declined. 

2020 also marked 100 years since the emergence of the Progressive Party, later Country now National Party, in the NSW Parliament at the March 1920 elections. The Federal Party really began in 1919 with the election of farmer representatives to the National Parliament. In Northern NSW, the history of the Country Party and the country press are inextricably entwined. 

What began as a series on the history of the country press was effectively hijacked by the March 1920 election campaign. There I focused especially on one man, David Drummond, the share farmer from Inverell who was not expected to win but did. 

In this post I am providing links to the posts on Drummond and that first election campaign that saw the emergence of the Progressive Party as a major political force, Later, I will return to the story of the country press.

The posts are:

• History of the New England newspaper press 9 - Drummond, Sommerlad and the emergence of the Country Party in New England 
• History of the New England newspaper press 10 - A country party to serve country interests
• History of the New England newspaper press 11 - Drummond emerges on the political stage
• History of the New England newspaper press 12 - Hard Times: the early life of David Drummond
• History of the New England newspaper press 14 - putting farming ideas into practice
• History of the New England newspaper press 15 - Northern Tableland Progressive Party Electoral Council formed in 1919 but what next?
• History of the New England newspaper press 16 - Drummond points to neglect of country
• History of the New England newspaper press 17 - How the battle for pre-selection happened in 1920
• History of the New England newspaper press 18 - Candidate pulled no punches in 1920
• History of the New England newspaper press 19 - David Drummond and rivals for election in 1920
• History of the New England newspaper press 20 - Drummond goes to the circus
• History of the New England newspaper press 21 - How David Drummond won the election

For those who are interested to find out more, Decentralisation, Development and Decent Government: the life and times of David Henry Drummond, 1890-1941 - introduction, provides links to my biography on Drummond's life and times. If you are interested, you can follow the story through in more detail up to 1942.