Arthur Horatio Parnell

Storefront of the Arthur Parnell General Store in Barcaldine, Qld

Parnell was born at Pimlico, London, to Horatio Inglis Parnell and his wife Louisa (née Davis).[1] He attended St John's College, Battersea before going on to St Mark's College, Chelsea and in 1871, his family sailed to Australia aboard the Light Brigade.[2] Within a few weeks of having arrived, his father died in Rockhampton.[2]

Parnell started work at a station in the St Lawrence area of Queensland and later managed a general store in Peak Downs. He eventually ran his own general store and two of his sons continued on the business.[2]

Parnell began his political career in local councils. He was a member of the Livingstone Shire Council, and chairman of both the Kargoolnah and Barcaldine Divisional Boards.[1]

As an independent, Parnell contested the seat of Barcoo in the 1893 colonial election but was defeated by the Labour candidate, George Kerr.[3] He moved to Rockhampton and was often asked to once again stand for election at a state level but always refused[2] and instead became of member of the Rockhampton Council in 1902, eventually going on to be mayor in 1904 and 1907.[1]

In March 1908, he was appointed by William Kidston to the Queensland Legislative Council and served for 14 years until the Council was abolished in March 1922.[1] By then he had virtually retired from politics and was living at Taringa in Brisbane, having moved there in 1913.[2]

On 24 May 1877, Parnell married Barbara Elizabeth Esther Warry (d.1896) and together had 10 children.[1] Survived by three sons, four daughters and a step-daughter, Parnell died at his home in April 1933.[2] His funeral was a private affair and proceeded from his Taringa home to the Toowong Cemetery.[4][5]