Australian pioneer and politician, one of the founders of Cooma, Australia.

A `County Tyrone' Montague, he was born in Cloughlin, Ireland. His father was James Montague and his mother's maiden name was Mary Montague (Does anyone know anything more about this?). Emigrated to Sydney in 1841; worked for merchants Cooper and Holt until 1848; opened general store at Cooma cattle station; purchased many of the town lots and built the first stores in Cooma. Involved in a number of successful businesses: built the first steam flour mill and formed a partnership to work a coal mine. Appointed magistrate in 1848. He was founder of the newspaper the Manaro Mercury and the Cooma Hospital.

Large cattle ranch operations apparently marginal (the AuDB mentions three boatloads of cattle to New Zealand in 1864 resulting in `costly failure'). One of his properties in 1884 consisted of 15,400 acres with 10,200 sheep, 600 cattle, and 120 horses.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography notes:

"Nominated as a candidate... in the Legislative Assembly... Montague received the largest show of hands but declined... For years he declined to stand for parliament because of business commitments but remained politically active; an early advocate of closer settlement... he chaired a number of political meetings. He represented Monaro in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in 1875-77. Regularly attending the House, he showed himself to be a liberal, progressive, in favour of free trade and... extension of the railway..." (AuDB)

Today Cooma [1] , located in Australia's Snowy Mountains , is apparently mostly a Ski resort. It is also located in the heart of what is apparently the world's largest hydro-electric and reservoir complex, based on the runoff from the snow melt. (I admit, snow skiing is not what first comes to mind when I think of Australia!)

Sources:
[AuDB].

http://www.montaguemillennium.com/familyresearch/h_1898_alex.htm