Simon Fraser (Queensland politician)

Simon Fraser (1824 – 8 January 1889) was an auctioneer and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Simon Fraser
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Town Of Brisbane
In office
26 September 1868  17 August 1870
Preceded byAlexander Pritchard
Succeeded byRatcliffe Pring
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Bundamba
In office
29 November 1873  19 November 1878
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byWilliam Hendren
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Brisbane South
In office
6 April 1880  12 May 1888
Preceded byAngus Mackay
Succeeded byHenry Jordan
Personal details
Born
Simon Fraser

1824
Inverness, Scotland
Died8 January 1889 (Aged 64 or 65)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeSouth Brisbane Cemetery
NationalityScottish Australian
SpouseLucy Ann Simpson (m.1856 d.1930)
OccupationIronmonger, Auctioneer

Early years

Fraser was born in Inverness, Scotland, to parents Alexander Fraser and his wife Janet. Educated at Inverness, he ran an ironmongery business in Liverpool before leaving for Queensland in 1862. With John Buckland, he founded the partnership of Fraser & Buckland, auctioneers with the business later becoming Fraser & Son. Based in Queen Street, Brisbane, Fraser & Son were land and commission agents as well as stock, station and produce brokers.[1]

Political career

Fraser was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, during which time he represented three seats: Town Of Brisbane from 1868 to 1870, Bundamba from 1873 to 1878, and Brisbane South from 1880 to 1888. From 1884 until 1888 he was Chairman of Committees and carried out the role with "the strictest impartiality and conscientiousness in the discharge of his duties".[1]

Always sitting and voting with the liberal members of the house and although a dull speaker, he was greatly respected by the other members. Fraser was a member of the Board of Education in 1874, and supported free, secular, compulsory education to primary level. He also held the view however that the government should not subsidise secondary or advanced education since this would not promote self-reliance and independence.[1]

Personal life

On the 5 September 1856, Fraser married Lucy Ann Simpson (died 1930)[2] in London and together had 3 sons and five daughters. He was greatly interested in church work and had been involved with the Grey Street Congregational Church since its establishment in 1866. Fraser also helped form the Brisbane Sunday School Union and was its president on three occasions.[1]

Fraser died in January 1889 at his home, Torbreck, in Highgate Hill.[3][4] His funeral was held at his residence the next day[3] and proceeded to the South Brisbane Cemetery.[5]

References

  1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  2. Family history research Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. "MR. SIMON FRASER'S DEATH". The Brisbane Courier. 9 January 1889. p. 5. Retrieved 23 May 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  4. "BRISBANE'S HISTORIC HOMES". The Queenslander. 7 January 1932. p. 35. Retrieved 15 October 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  5. Fraser Simon Archived 23 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
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