William Colborne

The Hon
William Colborne
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office
19 February 1920  23 March 1922
Personal details
Born William Parry Colborne
1859
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Died 8 July 1945 (aged 85)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place Cremated
Nationality English Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Catherine Kelly (m.1890 died 1904), Kathleen Mary Davey (m.1908 died 1946),
Occupation Printer
Religion Society of the New Church

William Parry Colborne (1859 – 8 July 1945) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[1]

Early life

Colborne was born at Ipswich, Suffolk, England to Thomas Sendall Colborne and his wife Elizabeth (née Chamberlain). Arriving in Australia around 1882,[2] he took up work as a printer in Brisbane. He became involved with the Queensland Typographical Association and Printing Industry Employees' Union and served as it's secretary from 1903 until 1939.[1] He was also President of the Queensland Trades and Labor Council.[1]

Political career

At the 1902 Queensland state election, Colborne, was the Labour candidate for the seat of Toombul but was comprehensively beaten by the sitting member, Andrew Petrie.[3]

When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[5] The Council, however, continued to reject the government's money bills and in 1918 Ryan advised Goold-Adams to appoint additional Labour members, but this time he refused the request.[5]

In 1920, the new Premier Ted Theodore appointed a further fourteen new members to the Council[6] with Colborne amongst the appointees.[1] He served for two years until the Council was abolished in March 1922.[1]

Personal life

Colborne married Catherine Kelly at Ipswich[1] in 1890 and together had six children. Catherine died in 1904[7] and in May 1908 he married Kathleen Mary Davey in Brisbane.[1]

Colborne died in July 1945 and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium.[8]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. OM64-28/5 William Parry Colborne Papers, 1902.ArchiveGrid. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  3. "TOOMBUL.". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878–1954) (Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 12 March 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. "TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864–1933) (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 7 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton John (1858–1920)Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  6. "LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878–1954) (Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 20 February 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  7. Family history research – Queensland Government Births, deaths, marriages, divorces. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  8. "Family Notices.". The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933–1954) (Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 9 July 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 6 April 2015.