Biography of rutledge williams

Australian politician

For the Canadian politician, see William Robert Rutledge.

William Rutledge, also known as Billy Rutledge, (January – 1 June ) was a politician in colonial Victoria (Australia), a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, and later, of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.^[1][2]

Rutledge was the eldest son of James Rutledge, of Ballymagirl (near Bawnboy), County Cavan, Ireland, and Martha, née Forster, of Longford, and reached Sydney, New South Wales aboard the Harriet in December ^[2]

Rutledge took sheep overland to Port Phillip District in ^[2] He purchased several lots at the early Melbourne land sales and commenced a partnership with Benjamin Baxter, financing him to build cottages in the Port Phillip area at £ each.^[2] At Kilmore Rutledge established a tenant community on a special survey, and although he never took it up he became known as the town's founder and gave land fo