John Sutherland

John Sutherland (16 February 1816 – 23 June 1889) was a builder and politician in colonial New South Wales.

Early life Sutherland was born near Wick, Caithness in Scotland, the son of a crofter, John Sutherland, and his wife Louisa. Sutherland had little formal education and trained as carpenter. He emigrated to New South Wales as an unassisted migrant, arriving in 1838 and set himself up as a successful builder. He was mayor in 1861. which included the suburbs of Paddington and Redfern. He was Secretary for Public Works in the second Robertson and fifth Cowper ministries from October 1868 to December 1870, in the first Parkes ministry from May 1872 to February 1875 and in the Farnell ministry from December 1877 to December 1878. In October 1881 he was one of nine royal commissioners appointed to enquire into the working of the Friendly Societies Act.

He held Paddington until February 1880, when he resigned because his company had a government contract re-distribution. when he was appointed to the Legislative Council. He did not take his seat in the council, in order to contest Redfern at the 1882 election, representing Redfern until his death in 1889. He was Sectretary for Public Works for a fifth time in the fourth Parkes ministry from January 1887 to January 1889.