napco

For twenty-two years, between 1870 and 1896, Sir Thomas McIlwraith thundered across Queensland’s political stage as a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He was thrice Premier of Queensland and held various ministerial positions including Colonial Treasurer. He was an engineer, visionary, politician, businessman, entrepreneur, pastoralist, and family man. The publication analyses McIlwraith’s progressive beliefs in economic development, infrastructure, railways, responsible government, nationalism, federation, republicanism, and foreign policy, together with indentured labor and race, in colonial Queensland, issues that are as relevant today as they were in the colonial era. McIlwraith strived to make Queensland the premier colony of Australia. The three times Premier took bold and audacious actions and had the energy and motivation to drive the colony’s economic development and his own enterprises. Source: beanland.net.au/Denver-Beanland/The-Queensland-Caesar-Sir...

Mrs. Collins (Mary Adelaide Gwendoline Roberts) Born 9 APR 1870 • Dunedin, New Zealand Died 16 NOV 1962

Wayne Hill Thanks for adding the detail of Mrs. Collins birth and death dates.

In 1877 when Queenslanders William Collins, William Forrest, and Sir Thomas McIlwraith were joined by Englishmen John Warner and Sir William Ingram to form The North Australian Pastoral Company (NAPCo), little did they know they were laying the foundation for more than 145 years of sustainable beef farming. Our five founders were the original lessees of the great Alexandria Downs Station in the Northern Territory – now known simply as ‘Alexandria’, it continues its flagship role within NAPCo’s operation. The new company survived the financial and drought-induced crisis of the 1890s mainly due to its Burdekin properties which were less drought-affected and close to abattoirs. The first two decades of the 20th Century saw more drought, a world war, and changes in the ownership structure. In 1937, Francis Foster invested heavily in NAPCo taking an interest that grew through his life bringing with it exceptional pastoral skills and long-term vision, which laid the basis for its composite breeding program and pioneering contributions to land care, conservation, and disease minimization. Source: napco.com.au/our-story/