Henry Boan

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Alt NameHarry
Date of Birth4 November 1860
Death Date18 March 1941

ParliamentWestern Australia
DesignationMLC Metropolitan
PartyLiberal
Term1917 to 1924

BiographyHenry (Harry) Boan was born in Jones Creek, Victoria the son of Jewish immigrants from England. While clearly Jewish, it is doubtful whether he practised Judaism and he is buried in the Anglican portion of Karrakatta cemetery in Perth. He is best known as the founder of the highly successful Boans department stores initially in Broken Hill and then in Perth. The store became a Perth landmark, first passed on to Harry’s son and later sold to the Myer department store after a major fire. He was elected unopposed to the Western Australia Legislative Council in 1917 but resigned the following year, lived in England for two years before returning to Western Australia where he again was elected to parliament. After politics, his great passion was horse racing. He died in Melbourne at the age of 80 and was interred in the Anglican sector of Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.