Oswald Snowball

Oswald Robinson Snowball (18 July 1859 – 16 March 1928) was an English-born Australian politician.

Oswald Snowball
14th Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
In office 6 July 1927 – 16 March 1928
Preceded by	Sir John Bowser
Succeeded by	Sir Alexander Peacock
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Brighton
In office 8 October 1909 – 16 March 1928
Preceded by	Sir Thomas Bent
Succeeded by	Ian Macfarlan
Personal details
Born	Oswald Robinson Snowball (1859-07-18)18 July 1859 Wolsingham, County Durham, England, United Kingdom
Died	16 March 1928(1928-03-16) (aged 68) East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Resting place	Brighton Cemetery
Political party	Nationalist
Other political affiliations	Commonwealth Liberal Party
Spouse	Ellen Grace Anketell
Residence	Brighton, Victoria
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Profession	Solicitor

Snowball was born in Wolsingham, England, and arrived in Australia in 1868 where his family spent three years on the land. He studied at Carlton College and the University of Melbourne where he qualified as a solicitor and was admitted to practice in 1883. He was a partner in the firms Briggs & Snowball and later Snowball & Kaufmann.[1]

Snowball was elected to the Victorian parliament representing the Commonwealth Liberal Party in the seat of Brighton in a by-election on 8 October 1909. He was a prominent advocate of divorce law reform, in which he was supported by Rev. William Bottomley and the Melbourne Unitarian Church.[2] He served on various royal commissions, until he was voted Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly at the commencement of the 29th Parliament on 6 July 1927. Snowball died in office on 16 March the next year.[1]