William Henley Rawlings

The Hon William Rawlings
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Woothakata
In office 20 May 1893 – 11 April 1896
Preceded by	William Little
Succeeded by	John Newell
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office 12 July 1906 – 5 August 1906
Personal details
Born	William Henley Rawlings 14 October 1848 Bristol, England
Died	5 August 1906 (aged 57) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	English Australian
Political party	Labour Party
Occupation	Union organiser, Miner
Religion	Church of England

William Henley Rawlings (28 February 1848 – 5 August 1906) was a member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Early life

Rawlings was born near Bristol, England to William Rawlings and his wife Margaret Eliza (née Edwards).^[1] Trained for the sea, he sailed to Sydney in 1869 and on to New Zealand where he engaged in seafaring on the west coast for several years.^[2] In 1875, he was back in Australia and working as a miner in the Parkes goldfields.^[2]

Moving to Queensland and settling in the Herberton district in 1883, he undertook several jobs including labourer, assayer, miner, and prospector.^[2] By 1890, he was working as an Organiser for the Charters Towers Miners' Union.^[1]

Political career and death

Rawlings was nominated as the Labour Party candidate for the seat of Woothakata in the 1893 colonial election. Victorious over his competitors William Little and W.M. Bonar,^[3] he held the seat for three years before losing to John Newell in the 1896 election.^[4]

Rawlings was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in July 1906^[5] but served for less than a month before his death in August of that year.^[1] His funeral proceeded from the home of Michael Woods at Spring Hill to Parliament House, and then on to the Toowong Cemetery.^[2][6]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
2. "Death of the Hon. W. H. Rawlings.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 6 August 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
3. "GENERAL ELECTION.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 22 May 1893. p. 6. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
4. "THE ELECTIONS.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 13 April 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
5. "LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 13 July 1906. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
6. Rawlings William Henry — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 27 March 2015.