John Newell

John Newell (30 November 1849 – 29 July 1932) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Early life Newell was born at "The Hollow", County Down, Ireland, the son of the James Newell and his wife Margaret (née McDowall). He was educated at Drumaghlis National School. He spent seven years working as a clerk in Belfast.

Business life Newell immigrated to Queensland arriving in Brisbane in 1872 aboard the Gauntlet. He moved to Cooktown in 1875 but was back in a year later where he worked for a mercantile company.

Public life Newell was a member of the Tinaroo and Herberton shire councils and the chairman of Herberton in 1888–1889. As a member of the Ministerialists, he then won the seat of Woothakata at the 1896 Queensland colonial election, defeating the sitting member, William Rawlings. He held Woothakata for six years, retiring at the 1902 state election.

Personal life On 21 January 1885 he married Janet Jack at Watsonville and together had two sons and two daughters.

Two of the buildings of Jack & Newell are now heritage-listed: Jack & Newell General Store in Herberton Jack & Newell Building in Cairns

Legacy The town and locality of Newell in the Shire of Douglas is named after him.