Thomas Alexander Johnson facts for kids

Thomas Alexander Johnson (born June 19, 1835 – died October 28, 1914) was an Irish Australian businessman. He was also the Mayor of Warwick and a member of the Queensland Legislative Council. This was like a special part of the government in Queensland, Australia.

Life Story of Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, in 1835. He was the first of four children in his family. His parents were Edward and Rosanna Johnson.

Early Life in Ireland

In Ireland, Thomas worked as a merchant. This means he bought and sold goods. He lived in a place called Trillick. In 1860, Thomas married Catherine (Kate) Agnes Wilson. Kate was one of twelve children.

Thomas and Kate had seven children together. Five of their children lived to be adults. Kate's brother, Charles Wilson, became a politician in New South Wales.

Moving to Australia

In 1863, Thomas and Kate moved to Warwick, Australia. Kate's brother, James Wilson, came with them. Another of Kate's brothers, Rev. William Wilson, was already living in Warwick. He was a Methodist minister.

Thomas helped start the local Methodist Church. He was even in charge of the building committee. He also opened a very successful general store in Warwick. He used his experience as a merchant from Ireland to run his business.

Community Involvement

Thomas Johnson was a very active member of his community. He was the President of the Warwick Progress Association. He also served as Vice-president of the Eastern Downs Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was Chairman of the Warwick Farmers' Milling Co.

Both Thomas and his wife Kate were important members of the Warwick Methodist Church. Kate was also the President of the Warwick Women's Christian Temperance Union in 1895. This group worked for temperance (reducing alcohol use) and for women to have the right to vote.

Thomas Johnson's Political Career

In 1879, Thomas Johnson became an alderman for the Warwick Town Council. An alderman is like a local council member. He served on the council for 19 years. During this time, he was also the Mayor of Warwick from 1881 to 1884.

A future Premier of Queensland, Sir Arthur Morgan, was on the council at the same time as Johnson. Thomas Johnson also served as the Chief Magistrate of Warwick. This meant he was a senior local official.

The Australian Commonwealth Bill

In 1900, Thomas and Kate Johnson traveled to the United Kingdom. They went to promote Queensland and its products. They returned to Australia about 18 months later in 1901.

While in London, Thomas went to hear the Australian Commonwealth Bill being read in the British Parliament. This bill was very important. It was about Australia becoming a united country. Thomas felt very proud to be there. He heard important speeches from leaders like Joseph Chamberlain.

He said there was great excitement in the Parliament. People were very friendly towards Australia. This made him feel even more proud to be an Australian.

Joining the Queensland Parliament

In May 1904, the Governor of Queensland chose Thomas Johnson to join the Queensland Legislative Council. This was the upper house of the Queensland Parliament. Members of the Legislative Council were appointed for life. Thomas remained a member until he died ten years later.

During his time in parliament, his former council friend, Sir Arthur Morgan, became the Premier of Queensland. Thomas Johnson was always interested in railways. He supported building a railway from Warwick to Maryvale. This railway was called the Via Recta. The first part opened in 1911, but it was never fully finished.

Voting Rights for Everyone

Thomas Johnson was a member of the Queensland Parliament when a very important law was passed in 1905. This law was called the Elections Act Amendment Act 1905. It gave women aged 21 and over the right to vote. It also stopped men from voting more than once if they owned a lot of property. This was called the "plural vote."

Thomas Johnson strongly supported this new law. He said that giving women the right to vote was a good idea. He believed intelligent women could vote just as well, or even better, than many men. He felt that this change was going to happen no matter what. He said it was like trying to stop the ocean tide with a pitchfork. He hoped that voters would choose good and honest leaders for Parliament.

Supporting The University of Queensland

Thomas Johnson also supported the idea of creating the University of Queensland. This university was officially started by a law in 1909. He was surprised it took so long to create a university in Queensland.

He believed the university would help all kinds of people. It would give clever sons and daughters of working families a chance to improve their lives. They could use the university to prepare for important jobs in the state. He praised the government for finally making the university happen.

Thomas Johnson was politically independent. He did not belong to any specific political party.

Later Life

Thomas Johnson's wife, Kate, passed away in 1908. She had been unwell for several years. Thomas died in Warwick on October 28, 1914. He passed away from heart failure. Four of his children were still alive when he died.

Legacy

Johnson's Building (left) and Warwick Town Hall (right), around 1918

In 1896, Thomas Johnson bought land on Palmerin Street in Warwick. He hired an architect named Conrad Cobden Dornbusch to design a special building. This building had several shops, including Johnson's own store.

The building is known as Johnson's Building. It has a unique arched front. Today, it is still used as shops. It is also listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance.