Robert Fraser (politician)

Robert "Bob" Fraser (1843 – 9 September 1918) was a Mayor of Brisbane and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Bob Fraser
25th Mayor of Brisbane
In office
1894–1895
Preceded byJohn McMaster
Succeeded byRobert Thurlow
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Brisbane North
In office
21 March 1896 – 11 March 1899
Preceded byJohn Kingsbury
Succeeded byEdward Forrest
Personal details
Born
Robert Fraser

1843
Beauly, Inverness, Scotland
Died9 September 1918 (aged 74 or 75)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
NationalityScottish Australian
Political partyMinisterialist
SpouseEmily Wherry
OccupationDraper

Early years

Fraser was born in Beauly, Inverness to parents Robert Fraser and his wife Christina (née Grant) and educated at Balbair. He began his working career as an apprentice draper in Tranent, Haddingtonshire, before working as assistant manager and then general manager of McLaren Smith & Co, warehousemen, Glasgow for ten years starting in 1868.[1]

He arrived in Brisbane in 1878 and began work with D. L. Brown and Co. where he worked in the woolen section of their department store. From 1888 he ran his own drapery business for twenty years until his retirement in 1908.[1]

Political career

Fraser first entered politics in 1891 as an alderman in Brisbane and remained on the council until 1906. During this time, he was Mayor of Brisbane from 1894 until 1895.[1]

He stood as a candidate for the two member seat of Brisbane North at the 1896 elections. Although opposing the Ministerial Government representatives of T. J. Byrnes and J.J. Kingsbury, both Fraser and his partner, Thomas MacDonald-Paterson, claimed to also be members of the Ministerialist group. In a tight contest, both Fraser and MacDonald-Paterson won a seat.[2]

Fraser held the seat for three years before being defeated Edward Forrest by at the 1899 elections.[3]

Personal life

Fraser married Emily Wherry in Scotland and together had three daughters.[1] He was one of the founders of the Scottish Rifles of which he was an honorary captain. He was also a founder of lawn bowls in Queensland and was a life member of the Booroodabin Bowls Club.[4] Fraser was at one-time president of the Tattersalls Club in Brisbane and was a life member of the Queensland Royal Geographical Society.[4]

Fraser died in Brisbane in September 1918.[1] His funeral proceeded from "Graceville", in Dean Street, Toowong to the Toowong Cemetery.[5][6]

References
  1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. "GENERAL ELECTION". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 23 March 1896. p. 5. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. "THE ELECTIONS". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 13 March 1899. p. 5. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. "Mr. Robert Fraser Dead". The Telegraph. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 10 September 1918. p. 2. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 10 September 1918. p. 6. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  6. Fraser Robert — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
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