William Henry Walsh
Encyclopedia
William Henry Walsh Queensland
squatter
and politician. Member of New South Wales
' Legislative Assembly 1859-1860, member of Queensland's Legislative Assembly from 1865–1878 and Queensland’s Legislative Council from 1879-1888. Queensland Minister of the Crown
1870-1873, Speaker for Queensland’s Legislative Assembly from 6 January 1874 to 20 July 1876.
Walsh was supposedly born on 18 December 1823 at Milton, Berkshire
, England, son of Charles Walsh, and his wife Elizabeth. He migrated to Australia on the Mary Sharp arriving 11 June 1844, afterwards gaining a few years of colonial experience working for David Perrier at Bathurst
. He then went north to begin a squatting career of his own. In early 1847 he set up, for his former employer, a new station on the Macintyre River
in the south-eastern part of the territory of the future Queensland. Shortly thereafter he went into the northern 'unknown' with men and a large flock of sheep financed by the Sydney-based Griffith, Fanning & Co. He subsequently formed the Degilbo and Monduran stations near the present day township of Gayndah
in the North Burnett.
Working still for the same company, of which he had then become a co-proprietor, Walsh went further north in July 1853. During this venture he and his men made their mark on Queensland history as the first whites to 'blaze the track' from Burnett
to the Boyne Valley near Gladstone
, now a section of the Bruce Highway
. Here Walsh formed yet another sheep station which he named Milton, allegedly after his birthplace or childhood home. He then married at Parramatta, New South Wales
, on 20 Feb 1857 to the Danish born (yet Scottish and English descended) Elizabeth Brown (1828-1913), daughter of the Copenhagen
-born merchant, John Brown (proprietor of Coulston House, Patterson River
, formerly the proprietor of Kokkedal
estate in Denmark). Afterwards he settled initially as the part owner, later sole proprietor of the vast Monduran and Degilbo stations, setting up the latter as a domicile for himself and his growing family.
Walsh was arguably the most conspicuous and outspoken Tory
-conservative politicians in northern New South Wales and Queensland in the period up to the 1870s. He died in 1888 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery
.
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...
squatter
Squatting (pastoral)
In Australian history, a squatter was one who occupied a large tract of Crown land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first Europeans in the area....
and politician. Member of 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...
' Legislative Assembly 1859-1860, member of Queensland's Legislative Assembly from 1865–1878 and Queensland’s Legislative Council from 1879-1888. Queensland Minister of the Crown
Minister of the Crown
Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...
1870-1873, Speaker for Queensland’s Legislative Assembly from 6 January 1874 to 20 July 1876.
Walsh was supposedly born on 18 December 1823 at Milton, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England, son of Charles Walsh, and his wife Elizabeth. He migrated to Australia on the Mary Sharp arriving 11 June 1844, afterwards gaining a few years of colonial experience working for David Perrier at Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
. He then went north to begin a squatting career of his own. In early 1847 he set up, for his former employer, a new station on the Macintyre River
MacIntyre River
The Macintyre River is a river in northern New South Wales, Australia, part of which forms the border with Queensland.The headwaters of the Macintyre River rise west of Guyra and south of Glen Innes on the Northern Tablelands...
in the south-eastern part of the territory of the future Queensland. Shortly thereafter he went into the northern 'unknown' with men and a large flock of sheep financed by the Sydney-based Griffith, Fanning & Co. He subsequently formed the Degilbo and Monduran stations near the present day township of Gayndah
Gayndah, Queensland
Gayndah is a town located on the Burnett River in Queensland, Australia. It is north of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Maryborough. The Burnett Highway passes through the town. At the 2006 census, Gayndah had a population of 1,745.-History:Exploration of the...
in the North Burnett.
Working still for the same company, of which he had then become a co-proprietor, Walsh went further north in July 1853. During this venture he and his men made their mark on Queensland history as the first whites to 'blaze the track' from Burnett
Burnett, Queensland
The Shire of Burnett was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. It completely surrounded, but did not include, the regional city of Bundaberg, and covered an area of...
to the Boyne Valley near Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
, now a section of the Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
. Here Walsh formed yet another sheep station which he named Milton, allegedly after his birthplace or childhood home. He then married at Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, on 20 Feb 1857 to the Danish born (yet Scottish and English descended) Elizabeth Brown (1828-1913), daughter of the Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
-born merchant, John Brown (proprietor of Coulston House, Patterson River
Patterson River
The Patterson River is a partly man-made waterway located approximately 35km south-east of Melbourne, Australia in Patterson Lakes, Carrum and Bonbeach....
, formerly the proprietor of Kokkedal
Kokkedal
Kokkedal is the municipal seat of Fredensborg municipality and a northern settlement in the urban area of Hørsholm, located on the coastline of northern Zealand, Denmark, between the two towns, Nivå and Hørsholm, 30 km. north of Copenhagen...
estate in Denmark). Afterwards he settled initially as the part owner, later sole proprietor of the vast Monduran and Degilbo stations, setting up the latter as a domicile for himself and his growing family.
Walsh was arguably the most conspicuous and outspoken Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
-conservative politicians in northern New South Wales and Queensland in the period up to the 1870s. He died in 1888 and was buried in 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...
.