Frederick Crowder (politician)

Frederick Thomas Crowder (1850–1902) was an Australian businessman and politician and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for two terms: in 1894–1900 representing South-East Province, and 1901–1902 representing East Province. He died in office and was succeeded by William Loton.

F. T. Crowder, M.L.C was born at Franklin-street, Adelaide, in January, 1850. His father, W. N. Crowder (-1898), was an aerated water and cordial manufacturer in Franklin Street who arrived in South Australia in 1839 on the barque Singapore. He was educated at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution and after leaving school joined his father's business, married in 1876, then in 1879 left Adelaide for Western Australia with William Letchford to open an aerated water and cordial business of Crowder and Letchford in Packenham Street, Fremantle in 1879. They won prizes at the 1881 Exhibition. and opened a factory in Goderich Street, Perth, in 1884, whose assets were sold to Crowder and Letchford Ltd. in 1896, later purchased by the firm of Donaldson and Collins.

In 1894 he was appointed director of Mount Eva Mining company with a goldfield at Coolgardie.

His wife died and sometime later he remarried and retired from manufacturing business.

He was for twenty years chairman of directors of Perth Gas Company.

He served for some time on the Perth City Council then in 1894 entered Parliament as member for the South-East Province of Perth, and was subsequently nominated as a delegate to the Federal Convention, and had the opportunity to revisit Adelaide and meet his old schoolmates. He opposed the entrance of Western Australia into the Federation so resigned his seat, but a year later he was elected to the West Australian Legislative Council for the Central division. He was returned unopposed for the East province a fortnight before his death at his home "Abbeyfeale View" at Cottesloe Beach. He left a wife Mary and three children.