John Douglas and the Port Curtis election in 1863

Port Curtis by-election

Successfully established as a pastoralist in the district, Douglas now sought an opportunity to enter the Queensland parliament.  He sorely missed politics, “that most precarious and most absorbing of all pursuits.”[1]  Rockhampton was included in the electoral district of Port Curtis, which in the first Queensland elections held in 1860 comprised all of Queensland north of Wide Bay.  Charles Fitzsimmons, a Rockhampton resident, was its inaugural member,[2] followed by Alfred Sandeman, a Rockhampton squatter, who resigned on 11 April 1863.[3] 

The local paper, the Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, was overjoyed by this news, “Sandeman has resigned.  The three words alone form by far the best editorial ever submitted to local perusal.” [4]

Sandeman’s resignation provided an opportunity for Douglas to run for parliament in an electorate where he held major property interests.  That Douglas resided in Brisbane and could therefore easily attend parliament if elected also counted in his favour, especially given Sandeman’s extended parliamentary absence.  Douglas was exceptionally quick in putting his hand up as a candidate, placing a notice in the Brisbane Courier only two days after Sandeman’s resignation and a full five days before the electors of Rockhampton read about it in their local paper.[5]

In his notice, Douglas pledged to oppose the present administration:

I shall thus be more free to act and to enforce attention for your requirements than I would be as a mere retainer of an incoherent ministry.[6]

Although denying rumours that he was seeking the post “to obtain a government appointment,”[7] Douglas indicated that he could be persuaded to accept a ministerial position under certain circumstances if it was offered.[8]

Thus Douglas, while making it plain that he would oppose the government of the day, had also indicated that he would accept a position in the Herbert ministry if offered it.  The Rockhampton Bulletin was less than impressed, preferring a candidate who would put local interests ahead of policy considerations,[9] while the Brisbane Courier considered Douglas’s notice to be a “somewhat inordinate affectation of disinterestedness and independence.”[10]

The nomination and election process for this seat is worth examining in some detail, because it illustrates how seriously colonial politics were taken despite the tiny number of electors involved.  Representative democracy in Australia was less than a decade old - a hard earned right to be cherished, nurtured and exercised.  Elections were the biggest game in town, a chance for the enfranchised to have their say on how the colony should be governed.  Moreover, while the number of Port Curtis electors was in inverse proportion to the vast and isolated district,[11] the stakes were high for the candidates, as careers and fortunes could be made or broken on the outcome.

A preliminary meeting was held on 18 April 1863 at the Royal Fitzroy Hotel, Rockhampton, “for the purpose of taking steps with respect to filling up the vacancy.”[12]  Several names were put forward including that of John Douglas, who was nominated by the prominent Albrecht Feez, seconded by Ranken and endorsed by Haynes.  Feez reminded those present that Douglas was:

a gentleman well known in the place, He was a man of sufficient means and leisure to devote the whole of his time to their service … He was a man of great ability, and had proffered his services.  If he made a promise, he would stick to it.[13]

Ranken believed that “the interests of the community would be safe in Mr. Douglas’s hands,” while Haynes opined that Douglas “had so much time at his disposal that he would be enabled to devote a great portion of it to the service of the electorate,” while the fact that he was resident in Brisbane was also to their advantage.[14]  One wag wanted to know why, if Douglas “had so much time and money, he could not spare a little of the one and the other to visit his constituency?”  This remark was greeted with loud applause, and the meeting broke up after those present nominated several other candidates.[15]

A leading contender for the seat was Alexander Fyfe, a squatter and auctioneer who lived in the district on the property Wipend and had previously been a member of the Victorian legislative assembly.[16]  126 constituents pleaded for him to stand,[17] but he declined, having “resolved to abstain from political life.”[18]  Unfortunately, for his supporters, Fyfe was out of town on urgent business, unaware of the impending by-election, and unreachable.  His views on the matter were not widely known, and so his nomination was put forward to the next round.[19]  William Walsh, another of those nominated, also declined to stand, saying he did not wish to be “pitted” against John Douglas.[20]  A Mr Goggs expressed an interest in contesting the seat,[21] but later withdrew due to ill health.[22]  The final contender was Charles Fitzsimmons,[23] but he, too, declined to nominate.[24]

Not one of the candidates was present at the subsequent formal nomination meeting, a matter that caused much comment.  Captain Feez again nominated Douglas, noting that he was “a man of high ability and large estate” and would “carry great weight” in parliament.[25]  Concerns were expressed at the meeting about Douglas not residing in the electorate.  William Rea, a prominent local identity, was also annoyed that Douglas was not personally present: “If you are worth representing at all it is worth your representative’s while to meet you face to face.”[26]

The returning officer called for a show of hands, with Fyfe receiving 49 votes, Douglas eight, Walsh only four and Fitzsimmons, the inaugural member for Rockhampton, 25.[27]  Fyfe was undoubtedly the most popular candidate, for he was a local man with previous parliamentary experience.  The same applied to Fitzsimmons, although he was less popular, for the electorate had had actual experience of him as their representative.  Support for Douglas was paltry in comparison, despite him also having parliamentary experience in New South Wales.  This was because, although he owned property in the district, he resided in Brisbane, and this was held against him.

Aware of the need to be physically present in order to shore up his vote, Douglas arrived in the district on the following day and immediately commenced campaigning; addressing his supporters that same evening.[28]  “I am here for the purpose of explaining my political opinions.  I come here with the wish to serve your interests.”[29]

However, he warned the crowd that if elected, he would retain the right to “the most perfect freedom of action.”  Douglas opposed the present government, for:

the object of forming an opposition is in my opinion to form a safeguard and check against the exercise of undue power on the part of the government.  If there is not an organised opposition, a government has its opponents at its mercy, and a true opposition is simply impossible.[30]

Douglas strongly supported the development of railway and telegraph lines to the northern part of the colony.[31]  While he opposed the idea of separation, he would not rule it out if parliament continued to oppose the advancement and improvement of the northern districts.  He was also not afraid to disagree with his potential constituents, telling one questioner who complained about £2,000 being spent on the Brisbane Botanical Gardens instead of roads that it was “not at all too much for the purpose.”[32] 

The Rockhampton Bulletin, while still favouring Fyfe, was impressed with Douglas’s performance, and observed of him, in a humorous piece, entitled The Port Curtis Electoral Sweep: “He took his first pipe opener last night, and somewhat astonished those who contested that he had nothing but a turn of speed to recommend him.”[33]

Support for Douglas was growing in Gladstone as well, with a local correspondent correctly remarking; “At present the current feeling is in his favour in this township, and doubtless a personal visit will secure him most of the votes.”[34]  In Douglas’s favour was that Fyfe and Fitzsimmons withdrew before election day, while Walsh declined to be nominated.  The Rockhampton Bulletin threw its support behind Douglas, for in comparison to Fyfe, Douglas “has undoubtedly a greater diplomatic forte, a more suasive demeanour, and ... an equally honest intention.”[35]

By polling day, Douglas was the “only bona fide candidate.”[36]  95 electors cast their votes in Rockhampton, 70 voting for Douglas, 24 for Fyfe and one for Fitzsimmons,[37] while in Gladstone Douglas received 39 of the 42 votes, Walsh collecting the remaining three.[38]  The Rockhampton Bulletin was pleased with the outcome:

We trust we have, at any rate, secured our chief desideratum, a good member, and, with the full belief that we have done so, beg to offer our sincere congratulations to Mr. Douglas.[39]

Douglas, at the age of 34, had successfully contested his third election and secured his first seat in the Queensland parliament.  He was fortunate in that his chief opponent, Alexander Fyfe, was unable to stand due to pressure of business, for had Fyfe stood he most probably would have won.

Port Curtis election

However, on 22 May 1863, the same day Douglas left Rockhampton for Brisbane to take up his seat, parliament was dissolved, the ministry lacking sufficient support for its Railways Bill, and a general election was called.[40]  Thus, 10 days after being elected to parliament, Douglas had to recontest his seat.  He was furious.  In a notice to the Port Curtis electorate, he expressed his disgust at the current state of affairs contending that his constituents:

have thus, for a time, been defrauded of the increased representation which you reasonably expected, and which it would have been my privilege to have advocated.[41]

Despite only being recently elected, he implored them to re-elect him, and confidently reminded them, “you already know me.”  To those who were not familiar with him, he informed them that he was a:

constitutional liberal - not desiring change for the sake of change, but solicitous to secure that gradual progress which can alone give permanence and solidity to our political structure.[42]

Douglas had won the recent election because he opposed the ministry.  Aware of the strong feelings in his electorate for separation from the southern part of the colony, he had cleverly, if somewhat cynically, made this the central plank in his campaign, despite having earlier indicated that he did not believe it a viable alternative.[43]  Nevertheless, it was a popular decision, as a local correspondent noted:

We have every confidence in our envoy Mr. Douglas, and he cannot go too far in expressing our indignation at the long and patiently borne treatment we have received.[44]

The push for separation arose due to funds being earmarked for a railway line from Ipswich to Dalby at the expense of similar infrastructure for the northern districts.[45]  Douglas sided with his constituents and recommended that the district should “go for a railway too.”[46]  In chairing an ‘indignation meeting’ about this matter at Rockhampton shortly after his election, Douglas incurred the wrath of the Brisbane Courier newspaper, who considered his address to be:

worthy of a minister of the crown, for it contained nothing, committed its author to nothing, and ended in vapour.  He was not prepared to say anything, and could not even enlighten his audience as to the comparative cost of common roads and railways.  Of his own knowledge he appeared to know nothing at all, and consequently betrayed no principles and enunciated no policy.[47]

Douglas’s strong support for separation, his opposition to the ministry that was seen by many in the northern districts as ignoring their needs, and the fact that he had only a few weeks before won the seat in a by-election, made him a near certainty to be returned in the general election for the same seat.  So confident of success was Douglas that he did not return from Brisbane, to the district.[48]  As he correctly observed shortly before the polling day, “the result of the late election justifies me in claiming a renewal of that confidence which you have already bestowed on me.”[49]  The Rockhampton Bulletin newspaper concurred, believing that:

we can hardly suppose there will be a vestige of opposition to Mr. Douglas ... and his re-election will be necessarily exempt from any excitement or iteration of already known political opinions.[50]

Indeed, Douglas and the paper’s confidence were well placed, for as the only candidate, he was duly elected unopposed.[51]  

Douglas had now been elected to a colonial parliament for the fourth time.  It marked his final transition from pastoralist to politician.  It would lead him to the Queensland premiership and a life dedicated to public service.  Few would have predicted this at the time, but, as will be seen, Douglas’s performance in the upcoming parliamentary session would demonstrate to many that he was a rising star in the north, one destined for some form of future greatness in the public arena.

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[1] John Douglas to Samuel Griffith, 14 February 1885.  Griffith Papers.  Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales, MSQ 186, pp. 92-96

[2] Waterson (1972), pp. 57-58

[3] Bird, p. 32; Bernays, p. 9; Statistical Register of Queensland for 1863.  Brisbane, Government Printer, 1864, p. 17; Waterson (1972), p. 163

[4] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 18 April 1863

[5] Ibid.  The Rockhampton Bulletin expressed its disapproval at this undue haste and proposed for the “present: dismissing all consideration of the subject.”

[6] John Douglas.  “To the Electors of the Port Curtis District.”  Brisbane Courier, 14 April 1863

[7] Ibid.  Despite this disavowal, the Brisbane Courier noted that, although Douglas had “avowed his hostility to the present advisers of the government, it is urged in well-informed circles that he is, notwithstanding, the best favoured man (if elected) to supply the anticipated vacancy in the ministry.”  (Brisbane Courier, 18 April 1863, p. 2)

[8] John Douglas.  “To the Electors of the Port Curtis District.”  Brisbane Courier, 14 April 1863

[9] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 18 April 1863

[10] Brisbane Courier, 18 April 1863, p. 2

[11] There were some 282 freehold electors out of a total number of 1,266 electors.  (Statistical Register of Queensland for 1864.  Brisbane, Government Printer, 1865, p. 18)

[12] “Preliminary Meeting of the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 19 April 1863

[13] “Preliminary Meeting of the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 19 April 1863

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Brisbane Courier, 18 April 1863, p. 2.  Fyfe was born in 1827 in Scotland, arriving in Victoria in 1848.  He married Jane Bailiff in Geelong and was member for the legislative council for the town, 1854-6 and the legislative assembly, 1856-7.  He was then a pastoralist at Peak Downs in the Rockhampton district and was to represent Rockhampton in the legislative assembly from 20 June 1870 to 24 November 1873.  A Presbyterian, he died at Preston, Victoria, on 1 May 1903.

[17] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 22 April 1863

[18] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 30 May 1863

[19] Ibid.

[20] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 22 April 1863

[21] Ibid.

[22] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[23] Waterson (1972), pp. 57-58

[24] “The Port Curtis Electoral Sweep.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[25] “Nomination of Candidates for the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[26] Ibid.  This local parochialism was a feature of colonial politics and an obstacle Douglas would frequently encounter throughout his political career.

[27] “Nomination of Candidates for the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863.  The poll was set down for 12 May 1863.

[28] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[29] “Mr. Douglas and the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[30] Ibid.

[31] Douglas’s lifelong passion for a railway network to secure the economic development of the colony was cogently set out by him in an 1882 paper in the Victorian Review.  (Douglas (1882))

[32] “Mr. Douglas and the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[33] “The Port Curtis Electoral Sweep.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 29 April 1863

[34] “Gladstone.”  Brisbane Courier, 9 May 1863.  Douglas did visit Gladstone, carrying all before him.  (“Rockhampton.”  Brisbane Courier, 15 May 1863, p. 3; “Gladstone.”  Brisbane Courier, 23 May 1863, p. 3)

[35] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 9 May 1863

[36] “Rockhampton.”  Brisbane Courier, 15 May 1863, p. 3

[37] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 13 May 1863.  It was just as well that neither Fyfe or Fitzsimmons did not place ahead of Douglas, as both, despite being nominated in their absence, had previously indicated that they would not be contesting the seat!

[38] “Gladstone.”  Brisbane Courier, 23 May 1863, p. 3.  As the Gladstone correspondent noted in relation to the poor showing by Walsh, he would “doubtless have carried the majority in this town had we not been aware that he did not wish to be ‘backed’ against Douglas.

[39] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 13 May 1863

[40] “Epitome.”  Brisbane Courier, 23 May 1863

[41] “To the Electors of Port Curtis.”  Brisbane Courier, 26 May 1863

[42] Ibid.

[43] “Mr. Douglas and the Port Curtis Electorate.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland, 29 April 1863.  Douglas had advised his constituents to remain part of the colony for as long “as you have a fair share” of the colony’s resources and finances.

[44] Brisbane Courier, 22 May 1863

[45] Brisbane Courier, 23 May 1863

[46] “Rockhampton.”  Brisbane Courier, 22 May 1863

[47] Brisbane Courier, 23 May 1863

[48] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 6 June 1863

[49] “To the Electors of Port Curtis.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 6 June 1863

[50] Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 6 June 1863

[51] “The Re-election of Mr. John Douglas.”  Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser, 10 June 1863.  The poll was set down for 9 June 1863 and the writ for the election was returned on 19 June.  (Queensland Government Gazette, vol 4 no 48, 20 June 1863, p. 363)