William Perry (Queensland businessman)

William Perry (1835–1891) was a business man and politician in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[1]

William Perry
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office
22 September 1890 – 11 June 1891
Personal details
Born
William Perry

(1835-08-09)9 August 1835
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died11 June 1891(1891-06-11) (aged 55)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
SpouseAnne Harcourt (d.1917)
OccupationIronmonger, Company director

Early life

edit

William Perry was born in 1835 in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of William and Louisa (née Dodd).[2][3]

 
Original Perry Brothers store, Queen Street, circa 1860

Business life

edit
 
Perry Brothers Ltd, Queen Street, 1906, the previous 1860s building is immediately to the left

In June 1860, William Perry moved to Brisbane with his brother George to establish a hardware business; their brother Frederick later joined them. In August 1860, the Perry Brothers opened their business in Queen Street (where the Wintergarden Centre is in 2014). Business was successful and in 1865 they built new premises next door which they later extended back to Elizabeth Street. In 1876 his brother in law, Henry James Harcourt (1820-1909), also an Iron Monger, helped the business and "between the death of the late Mr. W Perry and the advent of his sons into the firm acted in a very responsible way in the business". His sister-in-law was married to Thomas Peate, of Smith, Peate & Co. Sydney.[4]

Politics

edit

William Perry was appointed as a life member of the Queensland Legislative Council on 22 September 1890.[5] He served until his death on 11 June 1891.[1]

Personal life

edit
 
View across to the Brisbane River from Folkestone, 1885

William married Ann/Anne/Annie (1834 - 1917), the daughter of Birmingham Brass founder, William Harcourt, at St Phillip's Church, in Sydney on 22 February 1862.[6] William Perry built the house Miegunyah at Bowen Hills (also then known as Newstead) as a house for his sons; Miegunyah was lower on the hill from his own home Folkestone.[7]

In April 1891, William Perry purchased Harlaxton House in Toowoomba as a summer residence after the death of its previous owner Francis Thomas Gregory.[8]

Later life

edit

On 11 June 1891, Perry died suddenly at his home Folkestone at Bowen Hills aged 55 years.[9][10] He was buried in Toowong Cemetery the following day (12 June 1891).[11]

Legacy

edit

Perry Park is named after William Perry. Perry had used the land as his family cattle and horse paddock.[12]

The house Miegunyah that Perry built was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.[7]

Harlaxton House which Perry owned was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "TO-DAY, JUNE 12". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 12 June 1891. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  3. ^ New South Wales Index of Births
  4. ^ "History: The First Occupants: William Perry (1835-1891)". Queensland Women's Historical Association. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  5. ^ "The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 22 March 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Family Notices". The Courier (Brisbane). Vol. XVI, no. 1273. Queensland, Australia. 7 March 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 24 October 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ a b "Miegunyah (entry 600055)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  8. ^ "QUEENSLAND NEWS". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser. National Library of Australia. 20 April 1891. p. 3 Edition: Daily. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  9. ^ "SUMMARY OF NEWS". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 12 June 1891. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  10. ^ "REVIEW OF THE WEEK". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 17 July 1891. p. 7. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  11. ^ "[No heading]". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 12 June 1891. p. 1. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  12. ^ "History: The First Occupants: William Perry (1835-1891)". Queensland Women's Historical Association. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Harlaxton House (entry 600839)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
edit
  • "Our Illustrations". The Queenslander. No. 2099. Queensland, Australia. 2 June 1906. p. 29. Retrieved 28 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.—a description of the business that William Perry founded