William Allan (Queensland politician)

William Allan
William Allan in his military uniform, circa 1890s
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Darling Downs
In office 29 November 1881 – 1 October 1883
Preceded by	Francis Kates
Succeeded by	Francis Kates
In office 6 September 1887 – 4 May 1888
Preceded by	William Miles
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Cunningham
In office 10 May 1888 – 21 March 1896
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Thomas McGahan
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office 11 March 1897 – 19 October 1901
Personal details
Born	William Allan 1840 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	19 October 1901 (aged 60 or 61) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Resting place	Waverley Cemetery
Nationality	Scottish Australian
Spouse(s)	Emila Mate (m.1871)
Occupation	Businessman
Religion	Presbyterian

William Allan (1840—1901) was a pastoralist and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.^[1]

Business

William Allan's black sheep, Braeside, 1894

William Allan owned a pastoral property Braeside located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) NNW of Dalveen and 21 kilometres (13 mi) SW of Warwick. He grazed cattle and sheep. He had an active breeding program to create a flock of black Merino sheep. He obtained twice the price for black wool than for white and this compensated for the slightly lower yield of fleece from the black Merino sheep.^[2]

Politics

On 1 November 1881, Francis Kates, the member for Darling Downs, resigned. William Allan was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the resulting by-election on 29 November 1881. He held the seat until the 1883 election).^[3][4] He did not contest the 1883 election as he was returning to the United Kingdom for a holiday for the benefit of his health.^[5][6][7]

On 22 August 1887, William Miles, the member for Darling Downs, died. Allan won the resulting by-election on 6 September 1887. He held Darling Downs until 5 May 1888 (the 1888 election).^[3][4]

At the 1888 elections, there had been an electoral redistribution, abolishing the electorate of Darling Downs, so Allan contested the new electorate of Cunningham and was elected on 19 May 1888. He held Cunningham until 21 March 1896 (the 1896 election), which he did not contest citing health and business considerations.^[3][4][8]

On 11 March 1897 he was appointed for life to the Queensland Legislative Council. He served on the Council until his death on 19 October 1901.^[3][9]

One of Allan's political ambitions was to create a railway line from Ipswich to Warwick (via the Fassifern Valley and Cunningham's Gap) and then beyond to St George, Cunnamulla and Thargomindah and across to the South Australian border to facilitate trade with South Australia, bypassing New South Wales. He envisaged that Warwick would be the major railway hub on the Darling Downs.^[10] However, this trainway line was never built and it was Toowoomba that became the railway hub on the Darling Downs.

Later life

William Allan had a long history of suffering from asthma and bronchitis which were aggravated by an attack of influenza in September 1901, causing him to take a month's leave of absence from the Queensland Legislative Council to restore his health. He travelled to Sydney hoping it would improve his health, but on arrival his condition worsened and his wife was summoned by telegram. She arrived to be with him when he died on Saturday 19 October 1901 at the Hotel Metropole in Sydney.^[11][12] His funeral was held on Monday 21 September 1901 at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Macquarie Street, Sydney, after which he was buried in the Waverley Cemetery.^[13] When the Queensland Legislative Council met on Tuesday 22 October, William Allan's death was announced and, following by a series of heartfelt eulogies by fellow Council members, the Council was immediately adjourned to mark their deep sorrow at his passing.^[14]

His Braeside Homestead is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.^[15]

See also

• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1878–1883; 1883-1888; 1888–1893; 1893–1896
• Members of the Queensland Legislative Council, 1890–1899; 1900–1909

References

1. "Allan, William". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
2. "The Darling Down—Their Modern Development.". The Queenslander. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 5 March 1887. p. 390. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
3. "Part 2.19 - Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860-2012 and the Legislative Council 1860-1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2012-2015: The 54th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
4. "Part 2.21 - Representatives of Queensland State Electorates 1860-2015" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2012-2015: The 54th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
5. "[By Electric Telegraph.].". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser. National Library of Australia. 9 August 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
6. "FAREWELL BANQUET TO WK. ALLAN, ESQ.". Warwick Examiner and Times. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
7. "Advertising.". Warwick Examiner and Times. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
8. "GENERAL ELECTION.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 4 March 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
9. "DEATH OF THE HON. W. ALLAN.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 21 October 1901. p. 5. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
10. "BANQUET TO WILLIAM ALLAN, Esq.". Warwick Argus. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
11. "Local and General News.". Warwick Examiner and Times. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 28 September 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
12. "HON. W. ALLAN, M.L.C.". Warwick Argus. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 22 October 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
13. "THE LATE HON. W. ALLAN.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 22 October 1901. p. 5. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
14. "LATE HON. WILLIAM ALLAN.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 23 October 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
15. "Braeside Homestead (entry 602351)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2013.