Sir William Austin Zeal KCMG (5 December 1830 – 11 March 1912)[1] was an Australian railway engineer and politician, Senator for Victoria in the Parliament of Australia.

During his campaign for election, Zeal strongly criticised the ability of the Victorian Railways engineer-in-chief, Thomas Higinbotham.

[2] Having joined forces with Sir William Mitchell in a station in the Riverina, Zeal resigned his seat in December 1865.

Drought conditions caused him to resume his practice as an engineer in 1869, including the design of the Moama-Deniliquin railway.

In 1882, he entered the Victorian Legislative Council as a representative of the North Central Province and, in April 1892, he became Postmaster-General in the Shiels ministry.