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| TLM-P was active in community affairs from the early 1850s. In 1851 his status was recognised when he was one of the newly appointed Justice of the Peace (JP).((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 27 October 1851, p.3.)) In that same year he became a founding committee member of the Moreton Bay and Northern Districts Separation Association, which worked to create the separate colony of Queensland.((//Moreton Bay Courier//, 18 March 1851, p.1.)) He was also an early member of the Queensland Acclimatisation Society, a society founded in 1862 to promote understanding how imported agriculture could be adapted for colonial purposes.((John Pearn, 'The Queensland Acclimatisation Society', //Queensland History Journal//, February 2020, 24:4, pp.339-355.)) TLM-P was an elected member of its Council in 1863-65, and in 1874 became a Life Member.((//The Brisbane Courier//, 9 May 1865, p.3 and 5 May 1874.))\\ | TLM-P was active in community affairs from the early 1850s. In 1851 his status was recognised when he was one of the newly appointed Justice of the Peace (JP).((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 27 October 1851, p.3.)) In that same year he became a founding committee member of the Moreton Bay and Northern Districts Separation Association, which worked to create the separate colony of Queensland.((//Moreton Bay Courier//, 18 March 1851, p.1.)) He was also an early member of the Queensland Acclimatisation Society, a society founded in 1862 to promote understanding how imported agriculture could be adapted for colonial purposes.((John Pearn, 'The Queensland Acclimatisation Society', //Queensland History Journal//, February 2020, 24:4, pp.339-355.)) TLM-P was an elected member of its Council in 1863-65, and in 1874 became a Life Member.((//The Brisbane Courier//, 9 May 1865, p.3 and 5 May 1874.))\\ |
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| In 1859, Queensland separated from the colony of NSW in 1859. TLM-P served as an Alderman on the Brisbane City Council from its inception that year until 1861.((Helen Gregory, 'Squatters, selectors and - dare I say it - speculators', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, XI:4, 1983, p.87n.)) He was among the 19 eminent men who that year (1861) founded the [[http://www.queenslandclub.com/home|Queensland Club]]. It was an elite Club which only the wealthy could afford. In his diary of 1888 (27 June) he notes that his half-year subscription was £3.19.0 (over $1000 p.a. in 2022 values). TLM-P was a Committee member in 1870 and Vice-President in 1889-91. His barrister son Hervey joined in 1882; his eldest son Thomas de M. M-P joined in 1885; and his grandson Thomas B. M-P joined in 1912.((Queensland Club, //Rules of the Queensland Club: with list of members//, Brisbane: Watson, Ferguson & Co., 1891, SLNSW DSM/367/Q; Joshua Bell, //Queensland Club 1859-1959//, Brisbane: Queensland Club, 1959, pp.8,12,85,98,114.)) The Queensland Club was the meeting place for prominent men (women were not allowed to be members) notably squatters like TLM-P.((A. Morrison, 'Politics in early Queensland', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, 4:3, p.294.)) \\ | In 1859, Queensland separated from the colony of NSW in 1859. TLM-P served as an Alderman on the Brisbane City Council from its inception that year until 1861.((Helen Gregory, 'Squatters, selectors and - dare I say it - speculators', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, XI:4, 1983, p.87n.)) He was among the 19 eminent men who that year (1861) founded the [[http://www.queenslandclub.com/home|Queensland Club]]. It was an elite Club which only the wealthy could afford and, until 1884 when a new Clubhouse was opened on its current site (19 George Street), was in Mary Street, Brisbane. In his diary of 1888 (27 June) he notes that his half-year subscription was £3.19.0 (over $1000 p.a. in 2022 values). TLM-P was a Committee member in 1870 and Vice-President in 1889-91. His barrister son Hervey joined in 1882; his eldest son Thomas de M. M-P joined in 1885; and his grandson Thomas B. M-P joined in 1912.((Queensland Club, //Rules of the Queensland Club: with list of members//, Brisbane: Watson, Ferguson & Co., 1891, SLNSW DSM/367/Q; Joshua Bell, //Queensland Club 1859-1959//, Brisbane: Queensland Club, 1959, pp.8,12,85,98,114.)) The Queensland Club was the meeting place for prominent men (women are still not allowed to be members) notably squatters like TLM-P.((A. Morrison, 'Politics in early Queensland', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, 4:3, p.294.)) \\ |
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| When Queensland separated from the colony of NSW in 1859, its settler (white) population was only around 28,000.((Ross Fitzgerald, //A History of Queensland: From the Dreaming to 1915//, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1986, p.113.)) The first Premier was [[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/herbert-sir-robert-george-wyndham-3757|Robert George Wyndham Herbert]]: TLM-P shared many of Herbert's values. As well, in the small world of colonial Australia, they had a connection: Herbert's cousin was George Wyndham on whose property TLM-P had gained his initial colonial experience.((Thanks to Don Seton Wilkinson, email to J. Godden, 13 August 2019, for pointing out this connection)) TLM-P represented the interests of squatters. They were never a unified bloc and, while conservative, were not always anti-liberal.((A. Morrison, 'Politics in early Queensland', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, 4:3, p.293.)) TLM-P was identified with more conservative faction: 'the conservative rural interest' as opposed to 'the urban-liberal interest' group.((Helen Gregory, 'Squatters, selectors and - dare I say it - speculators', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, XI:4, 1983, pp.74-87.)) The political system strongly favoured the interests of the wealthier rural landowners, so TLM-P largely represented dominant interests. The idea of mass democracy was still a radical idea and property owners were generally firm in their conviction that they alone had the right to rule - even if it did mean a few women managed to vote before legislation was amended to exclude them. TLM-P stood for the seat of East Moreton in the first election in 1860, urging electors to protect 'the interests of the squatter, the first occupier of the land'.((A. Morrison, 'Politics in Early Queensland', //Historical Society of Queensland Journal//, IV:3, p.297.)) He outlined his policies in a letter to the electorate in April 1860.((//The Moreton Bay Courier//, 28 April 1860, p.3.)) His policies have been summarised as 'a land bill to ensure immigration by leasing Crown land for farming, with pre-emptive rights at any time during the currency of the lease, the establishment of a national system of education, and no state aid for religion.'((Allan Morrison, 'Some Queensland Postmasters-General", Brisbane, Post Office Historical Society, 1953, p4, copy J. Godden; //Australia's Representative Men//, [ed. T.W.H. Leavitt], Improved Edition, Melbourne: Wells and Leavitt, c.1889, entry for T.L. Murray-Prior. The book used is the one TLM-P owned, signed by him and dated 14th June 1889. It is likely that TLM-P provided the information. It states that TLM-P was offered a seat in the Legislative Council, but declined to twice unsuccessfully contest the East Moreton seat in the Legislative Assembly.]])) When he failed to be elected, his sights turned to the public service. \\ | When Queensland separated from the colony of NSW in 1859, its settler (white) population was only around 28,000.((Ross Fitzgerald, //A History of Queensland: From the Dreaming to 1915//, St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1986, p.113.)) The first Premier was [[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/herbert-sir-robert-george-wyndham-3757|Robert George Wyndham Herbert]]: TLM-P shared many of Herbert's values. As well, in the small world of colonial Australia, they had a connection: Herbert's cousin was George Wyndham on whose property TLM-P had gained his initial colonial experience.((Thanks to Don Seton Wilkinson, email to J. Godden, 13 August 2019, for pointing out this connection)) TLM-P represented the interests of squatters. They were never a unified bloc and, while conservative, were not always anti-liberal.((A. Morrison, 'Politics in early Queensland', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, 4:3, p.293.)) TLM-P was identified with more conservative faction: 'the conservative rural interest' as opposed to 'the urban-liberal interest' group.((Helen Gregory, 'Squatters, selectors and - dare I say it - speculators', //Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland//, XI:4, 1983, pp.74-87.)) The political system strongly favoured the interests of the wealthier rural landowners, so TLM-P largely represented dominant interests. The idea of mass democracy was still a radical idea and property owners were generally firm in their conviction that they alone had the right to rule - even if it did mean a few women managed to vote before legislation was amended to exclude them. TLM-P stood for the seat of East Moreton in the first election in 1860, urging electors to protect 'the interests of the squatter, the first occupier of the land'.((A. Morrison, 'Politics in Early Queensland', //Historical Society of Queensland Journal//, IV:3, p.297.)) He outlined his policies in a letter to the electorate in April 1860.((//The Moreton Bay Courier//, 28 April 1860, p.3.)) His policies have been summarised as 'a land bill to ensure immigration by leasing Crown land for farming, with pre-emptive rights at any time during the currency of the lease, the establishment of a national system of education, and no state aid for religion.'((Allan Morrison, 'Some Queensland Postmasters-General", Brisbane, Post Office Historical Society, 1953, p4, copy J. Godden; //Australia's Representative Men//, [ed. T.W.H. Leavitt], Improved Edition, Melbourne: Wells and Leavitt, c.1889, entry for T.L. Murray-Prior. The book used is the one TLM-P owned, signed by him and dated 14th June 1889. It is likely that TLM-P provided the information. It states that TLM-P was offered a seat in the Legislative Council, but declined to twice unsuccessfully contest the East Moreton seat in the Legislative Assembly.]])) When he failed to be elected, his sights turned to the public service. \\ |
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| It would take a specialised historian to properly assess TLM-P's success as Postmaster-General. We do know that during 1862-74, when TLM-P was predominantly the Postmaster-General, the service underwent a major expansion. For example: in 1862 the money order system was introduced,((Malcolm Rea, 'Communications across the generations: An Australian Post Office History of Queensland', //The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Year Book of Proceedings//, IX:2, 1970-71, pp.168-226 (p190).)) and from 1865, saving bank deposits could be made at Queensland post offices. The increase in staff is another indication of growth: in 1865, TLM-P had a postal staff of 28; by 1872 the staff totalled 50.((//Centenary of the Brisbane General Post Office, 1872-1972//, Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane, 1972, pp.8,11.)) TLM-P was responsible for the much-needed new [[wp>General_Post_Office,_Brisbane|General Post Office]]((//Centenary of the Brisbane General Post Office, 1872-1972//, Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane, 1972, pp.7-8; Richard Breckon, An Australian Post Office History, c1972, p.40)) which opened in Brisbane in 1872. The number of post offices increased from 23 in 1862 to 139 ten years later.((A Report on the Post Office in Queensland, A Sunday Truth Special Feature, 2 May 1965, p.25.)) In the 1860s, TLM-P opened up new routes serviced by Cobb and Co coaches.((Malcolm Rea, 'Communications across the generations: An Australian Post Office History of Queensland', //The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Year Book of Proceedings//, IX:2, 1970-71, pp.168-226 (p183).)) \\ | It would take a specialised historian to properly assess TLM-P's success as Postmaster-General. It is possible that some assessment is made in Allan A. Morrison, //Some Queensland postmasters-general//, Brisbane:Post Office Historical Society, 1953. We do know that during 1862-74, when TLM-P was predominantly the Postmaster-General, the service underwent a major expansion. For example: in 1862 the money order system was introduced,((Malcolm Rea, 'Communications across the generations: An Australian Post Office History of Queensland', //The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Year Book of Proceedings//, IX:2, 1970-71, pp.168-226 (p190).)) and from 1865, saving bank deposits could be made at Queensland post offices. The increase in staff is another indication of growth: in 1865, TLM-P had a postal staff of 28; by 1872 the staff totalled 50.((//Centenary of the Brisbane General Post Office, 1872-1972//, Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane, 1972, pp.8,11.)) TLM-P was responsible for the much-needed new [[wp>General_Post_Office,_Brisbane|General Post Office]]((//Centenary of the Brisbane General Post Office, 1872-1972//, Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane, 1972, pp.7-8; Richard Breckon, An Australian Post Office History, c1972, p.40)) which opened in Brisbane in 1872. The number of post offices increased from 23 in 1862 to 139 ten years later.((A Report on the Post Office in Queensland, A Sunday Truth Special Feature, 2 May 1965, p.25.)) In the 1860s, TLM-P opened up new routes serviced by Cobb and Co coaches.((Malcolm Rea, 'Communications across the generations: An Australian Post Office History of Queensland', //The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Year Book of Proceedings//, IX:2, 1970-71, pp.168-226 (p183).)) \\ |
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| In the 1870s, travelling post offices were opened on trains, the post and telegraph departments were amalgamated, and telegraphic communication was extended to remote areas, such as Cape York and the Gulf country.((//The Australian Encyclopaedia//, vol. VII, Sydney: The Grolier Society, 1963, p.241.)) Much of the expansion was the result of the rapid growth of the white population - in 1861 to 1864 alone, Queensland's population (largely excluding Aboriginal people) doubled from just over 30,059 to 61,467.((//Australian Historical Statistics//, ed. Wray Vamplew, Sydney: Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates, 1987, p.26)) How much TLM-P facilitated the expansion of postal services to meet the increasing demand is not known. However, as a representative of the squatters' faction, it was in his own strong interest to maintain efficient and widespread postal services. And he certainly was active: his 1863 diary indicates that, in under two months, he rode 1,017 miles (1,636 km) as well as travelling by coastal steamer in a tour of inspection of the postal service.\\ | In the 1870s, travelling post offices were opened on trains, the post and telegraph departments were amalgamated, and telegraphic communication was extended to remote areas, such as Cape York and the Gulf country.((//The Australian Encyclopaedia//, vol. VII, Sydney: The Grolier Society, 1963, p.241.)) Much of the expansion was the result of the rapid growth of the white population - in 1861 to 1864 alone, Queensland's population (largely excluding Aboriginal people) doubled from just over 30,059 to 61,467.((//Australian Historical Statistics//, ed. Wray Vamplew, Sydney: Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates, 1987, p.26)) How much TLM-P facilitated the expansion of postal services to meet the increasing demand is not known. However, as a representative of the squatters' faction, it was in his own strong interest to maintain efficient and widespread postal services. And he certainly was active: his 1863 diary indicates that, in under two months, he rode 1,017 miles (1,636 km) as well as travelling by coastal steamer in a tour of inspection of the postal service.\\ |
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| | The elegant proposed design of the GPO Brisbane:{{:proposed_gpo_brisbane_scan_20241019_2_contrast_.jpg?400|}}((Provenance F. & E. Cullen-Ward)) |
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| An admiring view of his achievements as Postmaster-General comes from his entry in //Australia's Representative Men//. It states he 'may be said to be the first to have initiated the through mail service' (presumably to the UK), and the confidence of the authorities in his abilities was seen in his selection to negotiate with [[wp>Batavia,_Dutch_East_Indies|Batavia (now Jakarta)]] regarding the postal service (though he was unable to travel there himself). It described TLM-P up as a 'safe representative of the people' due to his 'unswerving integrity and disinterested loyalty'.((//Australia's Representative Men//, ed. T.W.H. Leavitt,Improved Edition, Melbourne: Wells and Leavitt, c.1889, entry for T.L. Murray-Prior. TLM-P owned a copy, signed by him and dated 14th June 1889. (Provenance: J. Godden). It is likely that TLM-P provided the information.))\\ | An admiring view of his achievements as Postmaster-General comes from his entry in //Australia's Representative Men//. It states he 'may be said to be the first to have initiated the through mail service' (presumably to the UK), and the confidence of the authorities in his abilities was seen in his selection to negotiate with [[wp>Batavia,_Dutch_East_Indies|Batavia (now Jakarta)]] regarding the postal service (though he was unable to travel there himself). It described TLM-P up as a 'safe representative of the people' due to his 'unswerving integrity and disinterested loyalty'.((//Australia's Representative Men//, ed. T.W.H. Leavitt,Improved Edition, Melbourne: Wells and Leavitt, c.1889, entry for T.L. Murray-Prior. TLM-P owned a copy, signed by him and dated 14th June 1889. (Provenance: J. Godden). It is likely that TLM-P provided the information.))\\ |
| TLM-P (bottom left) with subsequent Postmasters-General of Queensland.(([[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=5090123&S=1&T=P&R=0]])) {{:postermasters_general_enhanced.jpg?300|}}\\ | TLM-P (bottom left) with subsequent Postmasters-General of Queensland.(([[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=5090123&S=1&T=P&R=0]])) {{:postermasters_general_enhanced.jpg?300|}}\\ |
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| {{:telegraph_staff_1870s.jpg?400|}}TLM-P has written on the back that this photo is of the 'Telegraph Department, officials Chief Office[ers?] Brisbane 1870 [? the last digit is unclear].((Provenance: J. Godden))\\ | {{:telegraph_staff_1870s.jpg?400|}}TLM-P has written on the back that this photo is of the 'Telegraph Department, officials Chief Office[ers?] Brisbane 1870[? or 1875? the last digit is unclear].((Courtesy F. & E. Cullen-Ward))\\ |
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| Following Tom A. M-P's initiative, this plaque on the Brisbane GPO has recently been restored.{{:gpo_plaque.jpg?500|}} \\ | Following Tom A. M-P's initiative, this plaque on the Brisbane GPO has recently been restored.{{:gpo_plaque.jpg?500|}} \\ |
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| Throughout his political career, TLM-P was active in defence of broad rural as well squatter interests: amongst other things he took charge of getting the Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1868(({{https://poi-australia.com.au/queensland-crown-lands-alienation-act-of-1868/}})) through the Legislative Council - ironically this act aimed to stop people [[back_to_england_c.1803-38|selecting land in their relatives' names]], something it is likely TLM-P did himself. He also consistently opposed the payment of members of parliament, effectively limiting parliamentarians to those who could afford to work voluntarily.((//Australia's Representative Men//, ed. T.W.H. Leavitt, Improved Edition, Melbourne: Wells and Leavitt, c.1889, entry for T.L. Murray-Prior. The book used is the one TLM-P owned, signed by him and dated 14th June 1889.(Provenance: J. Godden). It is likely that TLM-P provided the information.)) His wife Nora was one of his political admirers, writing to her step-daughter Rosa that 'It does my heart good to see him in his right place - a recognised leader & clear headed man.'((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, 21 December 1884, Oxley Library)) In a parliamentary debate on the Queensland Constitution Bill in October 1892, 'Mr Murray Prior said that the time would come when nominee Houses would cease to exist in Australia. He referred to the recent action of the New Zealand Government, and said as a nominee House the Council was at the mercy of the Government, and would be in a far stronger | Throughout his political career, TLM-P was active in defence of broad rural as well squatter interests: amongst other things he took charge of getting the Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1868(({{https://poi-australia.com.au/queensland-crown-lands-alienation-act-of-1868/}})) through the Legislative Council - ironically this act aimed to stop people [[back_to_england_c.1803-38|selecting land in their relatives' names]], something it is likely TLM-P did himself. He also consistently opposed the payment of members of parliament, effectively limiting parliamentarians to those who could afford to work voluntarily.((//Australia's Representative Men//, ed. T.W.H. Leavitt, Improved Edition, Melbourne: Wells and Leavitt, c.1889, entry for T.L. Murray-Prior. The book used is the one TLM-P owned, signed by him and dated 14th June 1889.(Provenance: J. Godden). It is likely that TLM-P provided the information.)) His wife Nora was one of his political admirers, writing to her step-daughter Rosa that 'It does my heart good to see him in his right place - a recognised leader & clear headed man.'((Nora M-P to Rosa Praed, 21 December 1884, Oxley Library)) In a parliamentary debate on the Queensland Constitution Bill in October 1892, 'Mr Murray Prior said that the time would come when nominee Houses would cease to exist in Australia. He referred to the recent action of the New Zealand Government, and said as a nominee House the Council was at the mercy of the Government, and would be in a far stronger |
| position if elected. When the bill was first introduced he thought they were to have self-government among the different provinces, and to have three provinces, but the present bill was very different. He thought the bill should go before the country, and after that be framed on a different basis, which would include three provinces. The [Legislative] Council would always neglect self interest for the for advancement of the colony as a whole'.((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 27 October 1892, p.6.))\\ | position if elected. When the bill was first introduced he thought they were to have self-government among the different provinces, and to have three provinces, but the present bill was very different. He thought the bill should go before the country, and after that be framed on a different basis, which would include three provinces. The [Legislative] Council would always neglect self interest for the for advancement of the colony as a whole'.((//Sydney Morning Herald//, 27 October 1892, p.6.))\\ |
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| | //Pugh's Almanac and Queensland Directory// (1889, p.525) lists him as 'Prior Hon. Thomas Lodge Murray M.L.C., J.P. Maroon Ipswich'. |
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| Reference: D. Waterson, //A Biographical Register of the Queensland Parliament 1860-1929//, Canberra: ANU Press, 1972, p.135.\\ | Reference: D. Waterson, //A Biographical Register of the Queensland Parliament 1860-1929//, Canberra: ANU Press, 1972, p.135.\\ |