Montague, Alexander, 1815 – 1898

Alexander Montague (1815-1898), store-keeper, pastoralist and parliamentarian, was born at County Tyrone, Ireland, son of James and Mary Montague. He arrived at Sydney in 1841 and worked for the merchants Cooper and Holt until 1848 when he set up as a general store-keeper at Cooma cattle station in the Monaro district. When his store flourished he bought the Cooma station which he sold to the Ryrie brothers in 1857. He later took up 'Numarella' and 'Mowle's Gully' near Cooma and 'Dooloodondoo' near Moruya. Montague built the first steam flour-mill in 1861 at Cooma, founded the 'Monaro Mercury' and the Cooma Hospital.

Montague was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Monaro (1875-1877). [ref:ADB 5]