Thomas Wilson (Queensland politician)

The Honourable Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson - 1915
36th Mayor of Brisbane
In office 1909–1909
Preceded by	Charles Buchanan
Succeeded by	John Hetherington
In office 1925–1925
Preceded by	Maurice Barry
Succeeded by	William Jolly
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Fortitude Valley
In office 1 April 1916 – 19 May 1933
Preceded by	David Bowman
Succeeded by	Samuel Brassington
Personal details
Born	Thomas Wilson 5 May 1865 Riddells Creek, Victoria, Australia
Died	19 May 1933 (aged 68) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	Australian
Political party	ALP
Spouse(s)	Emma Brown (m.1890 d.1952)
Occupation	Miner
Religion	Church of England

Thomas Wilson (5 May 1865 – 19 May 1933) was a miner and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1] He was also Mayor of Brisbane in 1909 and 1925.

Biography

Wilson was born in Riddells Creek, Victoria, to parents James Wilson and his wife Mary (née McLean). He was educated in Riddells Creek. As a young man, he left home to work in the primary industries and later as a shearer in the Riverina district. He then worked at the Cobar copper mine^[1] and came to Queensland in 1884^[2] where he invested in mining and pastoral pursuits.^[1]

In 1890 he married Emma Brown^[1] (died 1952)^[3] in Rockhampton and together had two sons and two daughters. He was a keen sportsman and a member of the Tattersalls Club.^[1] Wilson died in office in May 1933, and was accorded a state funeral which proceeded from his New Farm residence to the Toowong Cemetery.^[2][4]

Public career

Wilson was associated with the Labour Party from its very early days of existence. He was an alderman on the Brisbane City Council, winning the ward of Merthyr in 1905 and holding it for the next sixteen years. During that time he was a member of the Brisbane Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board. In 1909 he was Mayor of Brisbane and held the distinction of welcoming Lord Kitchener when he visited Brisbane on New Year's Day, 1910. In 1925 he was once again Mayor for a short period.^[2]

Following the death of David Bowman in 1916, Wilson won the seat of Fortitude Valley in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[5] He held the seat until his death in 1933, and was Minister for Public Instruction from 1925 until 1929.^[1] As minister he initiated many reforms for the welfare of school children and a lasting tribute to his name was the Wilson Ophthalmic School at Windsor.^[2] The Wilson Hospital was a specialised facility where eye diseases in children from country Queensland could be diagnosed and treated.^[6]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
2. "MR. T. WILSON DEAD". The Brisbane Courier (23,495) (Queensland, Australia). 20 May 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 2 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
3. Family history research — Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
4. Deceased Search — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
5. "VALLEY BY-ELECTION.". The Brisbane Courier (18,163) (Queensland, Australia). 3 April 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 2 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. AUS-QLD-L Archives — RootsWeb.com. Retrieved 2 April 2016.