William Pettigrew
Encyclopedia
William Pettigrew was an alderman
and mayor
of Brisbane
, Queensland, Australia and a Member of the Legislative Council of Queensland, Australia.
, Ayr
, Scotland, the son of Robert Pettigrew (a farmer) and Mary McWhinnie. He trained as a surveyor and emigrated to Brisbane in 1848 on the Fortitude arriving in Moreton Bay
in January 1849.
He married Amelia Boughay in Brisbane on 19 February 1859. Amelia was born on 19 Jan 1824 in London, the daughter of Philip Boughay and Elizabeth Nash. Amelia had also immigrated on the Fortitude. They had the following children:
Amelia had previously been married to Joseph Ward Davis, registered in the September quarter of 1848 in Newington
, Surrey
, England. So, William had two stepsons from Amelia's first marriage:
Sadly, William's stepson Joseph Davis accidentally drowned in the Brisbane River
in October 1859, while playing with other boys.
On 15 December 1881, William's daughter Margaret married Philip, the eldest son of another Brisbane alderman and mayor, John Hardgrave
. At that time, the Pettigrew family were living in William Street
. Mary Ann Pettigrew married Harry Ward Davis, son of E. Davis Esq of Charlton Kent on 7 April 1891.
William was a strict Presbyterian who believed in keeping Sabbath sacred. He practised this belief by walking to church and banning musical instruments during the church service.
William's wife Amelia died at their home "Nungurum", Eagle Junction, Brisbane
on 1 September 1893 and is buried in Toowong Cemetery
together with her son Charles Ward Davis who died in 1895. William retired to Bowen
where he lived with his daughter Mary Ann and her husband Harry Davis until he died on 28 Oct 1906 and is buried in Bowen
.
and Margaret Street, Brisbane
in order to build the first steam-powered sawmill
in Queensland. The sawmill was built by another Brisbane pioneer and mayor John Petrie
and was operational in July 1853. The mill was supplied with timber from land William Pettigrew had bought at Moggill from where the logs were floated down the Brisbane River
to the mill. The mill was very profitable for many years but, as the railways were established, the lack of rail link to his mill became a disadvantage compared to other mills. Finally his mill was inundated in the 1893 Brisbane flood
and by 1898 William Pettigrew went bankrupt.
Later in 1884, he established a landing place at Maroochydore to receive timber floated down the Maroochy River. In 1891, he opened a sawmill on the bank of the Maroochy River.
William Pettigrew had three steamers
that he used on the run to the Maroochy River, "Tadorna Radja", "Tarshaw" and "Gneering".
William Pettigrew closed his sawmill at Maroochydore in 1898 and sold up his land holdings in the Maroochy area in 1903. These events appear to coincide with both his bankruptcy as well as timber-getting becoming uneconomic (all the suitable trees in the area having been cut down) and a rail link to Brisbane reduced the need for a steamer service.
William Pettigrew established the Cooloola Tramway.
William Pettigrew jointly owned the Pettigrew and Sims Sawmill at Dundathu.
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
from 1863 to 1884 and mayor
in 1870.
He served on the following committees:
William Pettigrew was appointed a life member of the Legislative Council of Queensland from 12 May 1877 but resigned on 23 June 1894.
He was a member of:
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....
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...
, Queensland, Australia and a Member of the Legislative Council of Queensland, Australia.
Personal life
William Pettigrew was born on 26 August 1825 at TarboltonTarbolton
Tarbolton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.- Meaning of place-name :Tarbolton has been suggested as having one of three meanings:...
, Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Scotland, the son of Robert Pettigrew (a farmer) and Mary McWhinnie. He trained as a surveyor and emigrated to Brisbane in 1848 on the Fortitude arriving in Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
in January 1849.
He married Amelia Boughay in Brisbane on 19 February 1859. Amelia was born on 19 Jan 1824 in London, the daughter of Philip Boughay and Elizabeth Nash. Amelia had also immigrated on the Fortitude. They had the following children:
- Margaret, born Brisbane 1859
- Robert, born Brisbane 1862
- Mary Ann, born Brisbane 1866
Amelia had previously been married to Joseph Ward Davis, registered in the September quarter of 1848 in Newington
Newington
Newington is the name of several places, districts, a school, and a house.* England:**Greater London*** Newington, London *** Stoke Newington, a district in London*** Newington Green, a district in London**Kent*** Newington, Swale, Kent...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. So, William had two stepsons from Amelia's first marriage:
- Charles Ward Davis, born 1850
- Joseph Boughay Davis, born 1854
Sadly, William's stepson Joseph Davis accidentally drowned in the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
in October 1859, while playing with other boys.
On 15 December 1881, William's daughter Margaret married Philip, the eldest son of another Brisbane alderman and mayor, John Hardgrave
John Hardgrave
John Hardgrave was an alderman and mayor of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.-Personal life:John Hardgrave was born in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland on 14 April 1826, the son of William Hardgrave and Elizabeth Smith....
. At that time, the Pettigrew family were living in William Street
William Street, Brisbane
William Street is a small, relatively quiet road in the uptown part of the Brisbane central business district. The street is historical significant to the city's early development as a penal colony...
. Mary Ann Pettigrew married Harry Ward Davis, son of E. Davis Esq of Charlton Kent on 7 April 1891.
William was a strict Presbyterian who believed in keeping Sabbath sacred. He practised this belief by walking to church and banning musical instruments during the church service.
William's wife Amelia died at their home "Nungurum", Eagle Junction, 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...
on 1 September 1893 and is 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...
together with her son Charles Ward Davis who died in 1895. William retired to Bowen
Bowen
-Places:Australia* Bowen, Queensland, a town* Bowen Hills, Queensland, a suburb** Bowen Park, Brisbane, a park in Bowen Hills* Bowen Bridge, crossing the Derwent River in TasmaniaCanada* Bowen Island, British ColumbiaChina* Bowen Road, in Hong KongNigeria...
where he lived with his daughter Mary Ann and her husband Harry Davis until he died on 28 Oct 1906 and is buried in Bowen
Bowen
-Places:Australia* Bowen, Queensland, a town* Bowen Hills, Queensland, a suburb** Bowen Park, Brisbane, a park in Bowen Hills* Bowen Bridge, crossing the Derwent River in TasmaniaCanada* Bowen Island, British ColumbiaChina* Bowen Road, in Hong KongNigeria...
.
Business life
William Pettigrew was a surveyor who established a number of businesses including sawmills and a shipping business. His early work in the Brisbane area as a surveyor revealed to him the quantity and quality of timber available and how profitable it could be if it was milled efficiently without the need for intensive labour.Brisbane businesses
In January 1852, William Pettigrew purchased land on the banks of the Brisbane River near the corner of William StreetWilliam Street, Brisbane
William Street is a small, relatively quiet road in the uptown part of the Brisbane central business district. The street is historical significant to the city's early development as a penal colony...
and Margaret Street, 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...
in order to build the first steam-powered sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in Queensland. The sawmill was built by another Brisbane pioneer and mayor John Petrie
John Petrie
John "Jocky" Petrie was a Scottish football player who played for Arbroath F.C..He holds the record for the most goals ever scored in a senior British football game with 13 goals. This occurred during Arbroath's famous 36–0 victory over Bon Accord F.C...
and was operational in July 1853. The mill was supplied with timber from land William Pettigrew had bought at Moggill from where the logs were floated down the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
to the mill. The mill was very profitable for many years but, as the railways were established, the lack of rail link to his mill became a disadvantage compared to other mills. Finally his mill was inundated in the 1893 Brisbane flood
1893 Brisbane flood
The 1893 Brisbane flood, occasionally referred to as the Great Flood of 1893 or the Black February flood, occurred when the Brisbane River burst its banks on three occasions in February 1893. It is the occurrence of three major floods in the same month that saw the period named "Black February"....
and by 1898 William Pettigrew went bankrupt.
Maryoochydore businesses
Around 1862, the area around Maroochydore was opened up for development. In 1863, William Pettigrew visited the area and found there was plentiful timber to be obtained, including hardwood, cedar, bunya and kauri pine. Although there was good timber there, the Maroochy River bar was hazardous. So William Pettigrew established a depot and wharf at Mooloolah Heads (now known as Mooloolaba) to deliver timber to his Brisbane sawmill.Later in 1884, he established a landing place at Maroochydore to receive timber floated down the Maroochy River. In 1891, he opened a sawmill on the bank of the Maroochy River.
William Pettigrew had three steamers
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
that he used on the run to the Maroochy River, "Tadorna Radja", "Tarshaw" and "Gneering".
William Pettigrew closed his sawmill at Maroochydore in 1898 and sold up his land holdings in the Maroochy area in 1903. These events appear to coincide with both his bankruptcy as well as timber-getting becoming uneconomic (all the suitable trees in the area having been cut down) and a rail link to Brisbane reduced the need for a steamer service.
William Pettigrew established the Cooloola Tramway.
William Pettigrew jointly owned the Pettigrew and Sims Sawmill at Dundathu.
Public life
William Pettigrew was an 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...
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...
from 1863 to 1884 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 1870.
He served on the following committees:
- Improvement Committee 1863, 1864, 1869, 1870, 1877–1880
- Water Committee 1863, 1864
- Lighting Committee 1863
- Bridge Committee 1864, 1869, 1870
- Finance Committee 1865, 1871, 1872, 1878, 1881, 1883
- Town Hall Committee 1869, 1870
- Legislative Committee 1870, 1871, 1879–1882, 1884
- Wharfage Committee 1881
- Works Committee 1882, 1884
William Pettigrew was appointed a life member of the Legislative Council of Queensland from 12 May 1877 but resigned on 23 June 1894.
He was a member of:
- the Queensland Philosophical Society
- the School of Arts Committee
- the Queensland Acclimatisation SocietyQueensland Acclimatisation SocietyThe Queensland Acclimatisation Society was an acclimatisation society based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia which operated from 1862 to 1956. Its primary interest was in the introduction of exotic plants to Queensland, both for economic and ornamental purposes....
(a life member)
See also
- List of mayors and lord mayors of Brisbane
- Report on Site Visits, John Kerr, January 1998, which documents William Pettigrew's contribution to the timber industry in Queensland