Thomas Bavister

Thomas Bavister
Member for Canterbury (NSW Legislative Assembly)
In office
17 June 1891 – 25 June 1894
Member for Ashfield (NSW Legislative Assembly)
In office
17 June 1894 – 5 June 1895
Member for Ashfield (NSW Legislative Assembly)
In office
24 July 1895 – 8 July 1898
Personal details
Born18 June 1850
Died2 January 1923(1923-01-02) (aged 72)
SpouseHarriet Green
Parents
  • Joseph Bavister (father)
  • Kesiah (née Langley) (mother)

Thomas Bavister (18 June 1850 – 2 January 1923) was an English-born Australian bricklayer, union official and politician.

Bavister was a qualified bricklayer from a working-class background and active in trade union affairs. He emigrated to Australia in 1883 and maintained his involvement in trade union organisations and working for workers' rights and conditions. In June 1891 Bavister was amongst the initial group of Labor Party members elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He represented the electorates of Canterbury and Ashfield from 1891 to July 1898, as a member of the Labor Electoral League in his first term, and later as a free trade supporter or independent Labor member after refusing to sign Labor's caucus solidarity pledge.