William Colborne

Colborne was born at Ipswich, Suffolk, England to Thomas Sendall Colborne and his wife Elizabeth (née Chamberlain). Arriving in Australia around 1882,[2] he took up work as a printer in Brisbane. He became involved with the Queensland Typographical Association and Printing Industry Employees' Union and served as its secretary from 1903 until 1939.[1] He was also President of the Queensland Trades and Labor Council.[1]

At the 1902 Queensland state election, Colborne, was the Labour candidate for the seat of Toombul but was defeated by the sitting member, Andrew Petrie.[3]

When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[5] The Council, however, continued to reject the government's money bills and in 1918 Ryan advised Goold-Adams to appoint additional Labour members, but this time he refused the request.[5]

In 1920, the new Premier Ted Theodore appointed a further fourteen new members to the Council[6] with Colborne amongst the appointees.[1] He served for two years until the Council successfully voted for its abolishment, which took effect in March 1922.[1]

Colborne married Catherine Kelly at Ipswich[1] in 1890 and together had six children. Catherine died in 1904[7] and in May 1908 he married Kathleen Mary Davey in Brisbane.[1] William and Kathleen's son, Colin Colborne served as a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Colborne died in July 1945 and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium.[8]