Hugh McKernan (c. 1858 – 13 March 1929) was an Australian businessman, newspaper proprietor, and politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1894 to 1896.

He came to Western Australia in 1889, attracted by the economic prospects of the Yilgarn gold rush, and set up in Perth as an auctioneer and agent for interstate and overseas companies.

[2] McKernan later stood for the Legislative Assembly at the 1901 state election, but lost to Mathieson Jacoby in the seat of Swan.

[3] In September 1907, he was arrested and charged with threatening to kill Richard Haynes (his opponent in the 1896 Central Province election), with whom he had a long-running feud.

[5] McKernan made one final run for parliament at the 1908 state election, losing to John Hardwick in the seat of East Perth.