Sir Thomas Bent In 1838, Thomas Bent was born in Penrith, New South Wales. Sir Thomas Bent KCMG was an Australian politician and the 22nd Premier of Victoria. Bent was born in Penrith, New South Wales the eldest of four sons and two daughters of James Bent, a hotel-keeper. He came to Melbourne with his parents in 1849. He went to school in … Continue reading On this day (Australia): In 1838, Thomas Bent, one of Australia’s more colourful politicians and Premier of Victoria, was born in Penrith, New South Wales.