Australian Dictionary of Biography

Robert Matterson Vaughn (1833-1908), by unknown photographer

State Library of New South Wales, GPO 1 - 08578

Robert Matterson Vaughn (1833-1908), building contractor and politician, was born in Ohio, United States of America, son of Jesse Vaughn, farmer, and his wife Betsy, née Matterson. Educated at the Baptist Geauga Seminary, Chester, Ohio, in 1852 he sought his fortune on the Californian goldfields. Arriving in Sydney in 1853, he became a professional goldminer on the major diggings in New South Wales and Victoria.

On 12 February 1864 he married Sarah Anne, daughter of Thomas Colls, in St Clement's Anglican Church, Yass, New South Wales, and in 1867 settled in the gold-mining town of Grenfell where he became a partner in a company operating a steam-driven quartz-crushing machine. By 1875 he was proprietor of several steam sawmills and later set up an iron-foundry. Involved deeply in the local community, he was appointed magistrate on 16 February 1870, became president of the School of Arts next year and of the hospital in 1872, and on 10 June 1873 was appointed coroner for the district. By 1879 he was chairman of the Public School Board, a committee-man of the Pastoral, Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Association and of the Prospecting Association, a leading Anglican layman, steward for the races and from May 1879 commissioner of insolvent estates for the district. As chairman of the Railway League, with James Watson he led a deputation to the secretary for public works in a vain attempt to get the southern and western railways connected from Murrumburrah to Orange via Young, Grenfell and Forbes. He also owned land in Grenfell, was local agent for the Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society and operated as a building contractor, successfully tendering to construct the Forbes post office. Later he set up business as a civil engineer in Sydney in partnership with J. H. May and became a director of the Illawarra Harbour and Land Corporation, acquiring large land holdings in the Lake Illawarra area.

In 1880 Vaughn was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Grenfell and was secretary for mines in Sir John Robertson's 1885-86 ministry. A staunch protectionist, he was returned at every election until 1889 when he was defeated by the free-trade candidate George Greene. He was re-elected in 1891 as the oldest of thirty-five members of the new Labor Party, twenty-one of whom were under 40; he could not conform to the 'solidarity' discipline of the party and was defeated in 1894 by M. J. Loughnane, a young Grenfell solicitor who had gained the support of the local Labor Electoral League. Able and energetic, Vaughn represented country interests, especially those of selectors. His speeches show liberal democratic sympathies, wide practical experience and sound common sense.

Vaughn became a member of the Grenfell Municipal Council in 1898-99; chairman of the progress committee, he was a trustee of the Show and Recreation Grounds in 1900. He moved to Sydney in 1903 and, aged 75, died of chronic endocarditis at his home in Paddington on 14 April 1908. Survived by his wife, five daughters and three sons, he was buried in the Anglican section of Rookwood cemetery. Vaughn Park in Grenfell is named after him.