Niel Black

Niel Black (26 August 1804 – 15 May 1880)[1] was an Australian colonial pastoralist and politician, a member of the Victorian Legislative Council.[2]

Black was born at Kilbridemore, Cowal, Argyleshire, Scotland, the son of Archibald Black (died 1808), a farmer, and his wife Janet, née Macchananaich (Buchanan).[1]

Black emigrated to Australia in 1839, and went to the Camperdown district, where, as the representative partner of Mr. Finlay, of Castle Toward, Argyleshire, Mr. Stuart Gladstone, of Capenock, and Mr. Stewart, of Glenormiston, Perthshire, Scotland, he purchased the Glenormiston property.[3] The partnership, which was highly remunerative after 1846, continued until 1868, when the property was divided. Black bought Gladstone's portion, now known as Mount Noorat, and resided on it until his death on 15 May 1880. Black, who married Miss Grace Greenshiels Leadbetter, represented the Western Province from February 1859 to May 1880[2] in the Legislative Council, and was also a magistrate for the southern bailiwick. As a politician he was a staunch Conservative, and opposed the introduction of free education.[3]