George Edmondstone
Encyclopedia
George Edmondstone was an alderman
and mayor
in the Brisbane Municipal Council
. (Note. The name is spelled 'Edmonstone' in the Brisbane City Council Archives, spelled 'Edmundston' on his father's marriage banns, spelled 'Edmondston' on his baptismal certificate and Edmondstone on his father's Testament).
, Scotland
, the son of William Edmondstone, a naval commissary, and Alexandrina Farquharson daughter of a watchmaker,(Note: The name on her marriage banns is Alixa Farquharson),. George's father died when he was 12 and he migrated to New South Wales
in 1832. Later he went to Hobart Town and after some hard times began business in Sydney. He then moved to Maitland and about 1840 he took up Normanby Plains Station (near Warrill View on the Cunningham Highway
). He sold out early in 1842 and set up as a butcher in Brisbane, hoping to profit from trade with the newly-settled Darling Downs. He had married Alexis Telleray in 1837 in New South Wales
(her name appears in the Queensland
records as Alexandrina Tillery, the confusion most likely stems from transcriptions of original handwritten records).
George was in the first group of free settlers to arrive in Brisbane in 1840.
He built a house called "Pahroombin".
In his later years, George was described by his peers as a genial, amiable, old gentleman. He died in Brisbane on Friday 23 Feb 1883. His funeral notice appeared in the Brisbane Courier and said:
FUNERAL NOTICE. -- The Friends of
Mr. GEORGE EDMONDSTONE, deceased,
are respectfully invited to attend his FUNERAL;
to leave his late residence, Pahroombin, Break-
fast Creek, THIS (Saturday) AFTERNOON, at
4 o'clock for the General Cemetery.
WALTER BARRETT,
Undertaker,
2776 Petrie Bight.
At that time, the "General Cemetery" of Brisbane
was Toowong Cemetery
.
.
(1859–1866) of the Brisbane Municipal Council
and its mayor
in 1863.
He served on a number of committees including:
George was a Member of the Legislative Assembly
(lower house) of Queensland
representing the electorate of East Moreton
from 7 May 1860 to 1 July 1867. He also represented the electorate of Town of Brisbane
from 10 Feb 1869 to 14 Nov 1873 and then the electorate of Wickham
from 18 Nov 1873 to 28 April 1877.
On 12 May 1877, George was made a life Member of the Legislative Council of Queensland
until his death on 23 Feb 1883.
He made a substantial contribution to the early development of Brisbane. Amongst the initiatives that he championed were:
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in the Brisbane Municipal Council
Brisbane Municipal Council
-History:On 7 September 1859, Brisbane was proclaimed a municipality. Thus after the passing of the Municipal Institutions Act 1864 the area could establish a municipal council to administer the district - with powers relating to by-laws, to rating, to borrowings, to the control or regulation of...
. (Note. The name is spelled 'Edmonstone' in the Brisbane City Council Archives, spelled 'Edmundston' on his father's marriage banns, spelled 'Edmondston' on his baptismal certificate and Edmondstone on his father's Testament).
Personal life
George Edmondstone was born on 4 May 1809 in EdinboroughEdinborough
Edinborough might refer to:* Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland* Edinborough Park, an indoor park located in Edina, Minnesota...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of William Edmondstone, a naval commissary, and Alexandrina Farquharson daughter of a watchmaker,(Note: The name on her marriage banns is Alixa Farquharson),. George's father died when he was 12 and he migrated to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1832. Later he went to Hobart Town and after some hard times began business in Sydney. He then moved to Maitland and about 1840 he took up Normanby Plains Station (near Warrill View on the Cunningham Highway
Cunningham Highway
The Cunningham Highway is a National Highway in Queensland, Australia. It is named after the explorer and botanist Allan Cunningham who followed a route close to where the modern day highway runs.-Route:...
). He sold out early in 1842 and set up as a butcher in Brisbane, hoping to profit from trade with the newly-settled Darling Downs. He had married Alexis Telleray in 1837 in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
(her name appears in the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
records as Alexandrina Tillery, the confusion most likely stems from transcriptions of original handwritten records).
George was in the first group of free settlers to arrive in Brisbane in 1840.
He built a house called "Pahroombin".
In his later years, George was described by his peers as a genial, amiable, old gentleman. He died in Brisbane on Friday 23 Feb 1883. His funeral notice appeared in the Brisbane Courier and said:
FUNERAL NOTICE. -- The Friends of
Mr. GEORGE EDMONDSTONE, deceased,
are respectfully invited to attend his FUNERAL;
to leave his late residence, Pahroombin, Break-
fast Creek, THIS (Saturday) AFTERNOON, at
4 o'clock for the General Cemetery.
WALTER BARRETT,
Undertaker,
2776 Petrie Bight.
At that time, the "General Cemetery" of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
was Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery
The Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on forty-four hectares of land at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road approximately four and a...
.
Business Life
George Edmondstone had a butchery in Queen Street, the main street of BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Public Life
George was a founding aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
(1859–1866) of the Brisbane Municipal Council
Brisbane Municipal Council
-History:On 7 September 1859, Brisbane was proclaimed a municipality. Thus after the passing of the Municipal Institutions Act 1864 the area could establish a municipal council to administer the district - with powers relating to by-laws, to rating, to borrowings, to the control or regulation of...
and its mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 1863.
He served on a number of committees including:
- Legislative Committee 1859 - 1865
- Lighting Committee 1862
- Incorporation Committee 1862, 1864
- Bridge Committee 1862 - 1864, 1866
- Water Committee 1864
- Finance Committee 1866
- Brisbane Board of Waterworks 1874 - 1883
George was a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(lower house) of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
representing the electorate of East Moreton
Electoral district of East Moreton (Queensland)
East Moreton was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1860 to 1878.The district took in the south-east corner of the state, south of Brisbane and Ipswich. It was a dual member electorate from 1860 to 1873 and a single member electorate from...
from 7 May 1860 to 1 July 1867. He also represented the electorate of Town of Brisbane
Electoral district of Town of Brisbane
Town of Brisbane was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1860 to 1873.Taking in areas of Brisbane north of the Brisbane River, it was a three member consistuency and one of the original sixteen districts contested at the first state election...
from 10 Feb 1869 to 14 Nov 1873 and then the electorate of Wickham
Electoral district of Wickham (Queensland)
Wickham was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1873 to 1878.Wickham was a single-member constituency which arose from the break-up of the three-member constituency of Town of Brisbane...
from 18 Nov 1873 to 28 April 1877.
On 12 May 1877, George was made a life Member of the Legislative Council of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
until his death on 23 Feb 1883.
He made a substantial contribution to the early development of Brisbane. Amongst the initiatives that he championed were:
- Breakfast Creek Bridge
- Brisbane General Cemetery Trust, now known as the Toowong CemeteryToowong CemeteryThe Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on forty-four hectares of land at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road approximately four and a...
(where he is buried near the front gates) - A primary school in Spring Hill (today the Brisbane Central State School)
- Ann Street Presbyterian Church
- As mayor in 1863-64 he had much to do with the planning of the first Brisbane bridge, the town hall and Brisbane Waterworks.