Thomas Plunkett, senior

Thomas Plunkett (April 1840 – 2 September 1913) was a farmer and Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in Queensland, Australia.[1]

Thomas Plunkett
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Albert
In office 17 May 1888 – 21 March 1896
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Robert Collins
In office 18 March 1899 – 5 February 1908
Preceded by	Robert Collins
Succeeded by	John Appel
Personal details
Born	Thomas Plunkett April 1840 Arrigal, County Meath, Ireland
Died	2 September 1913 (aged 73) Sandgate, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Tambourine (Tamborine) Catholic Cemetery
Nationality	Irish Australian
Political party	Opposition
Other political affiliations	Ministerial
Spouse(s)	Maria Ryan (m.1866 d.1939)
Relations	Thomas Flood Plunkett (son)
Occupation	Farmer

Biography

Headstone for Thomas Plunkett and his wife Maria in the Tamborine Catholic Cemetery, 2005

Plunkett was born in Arrigal, County Meath, the son of John Plunkett and his wife Catherine (née Flood). He was educated privately and at the local school before sailing to Queensland aboard the Fiery Star in 1863. In 1866 he selected farmland which he named "Waterford" at Logan. In 1870 he then acquired land at on north bank of the Albert River at Tamborine (around Plunkett Road today) which he named Villa Maria in honour of his wife. He also purchased 2000 acres at Kerry and also land at Logan Village where he took up dairy farming and crop growing.[1] Later on he established a general store in the Tamborine area around 1872 and became the postmaster in 1874.[2][3]

On 2 May 1866 Plunkett married Maria Ryan[1] (died 1939)[4] at St Stephen's Cathedral[2] in Brisbane and together had four sons and four daughters.[1] On September 1913 he died at the residence of one of his daughters at Sandgate and his body was taken to South Brisbane railway station to be transported to Logan Village railway station after which he was buried in the Tamborine Catholic Cemetery (which was on land on Plunkett Road which he had donated to the church for a cemetery).[3][5][6]

Public career

Plunkett won the new seat of Albert at the 1888 Queensland colonial election,[7] but was defeated by Robert Collins in 1896.[8] He regained the seat three years later[9] and held it until he retired from politics in 1908.[1]

Plunkett was a Member of the Colonists' Anti-Convention Bill League and campaigned vigorously against federation. His son, Thomas Flood Plunkett, was a long serving member of the Queensland Parliament having represented the seats of Albert and Darlington.[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
2. Plunkett, Thomas (1840–1913) Archived 31 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
3. "Tamborine History". Bearded Dragon Hotel. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
4. Family history research Archived 17 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
5. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier (17, 360). Queensland, Australia. 3 September 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "St Patrick's, Tamborine". St Mary's Catholic Parish Beaudesert. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
7. "The General Election". The Brisbane Courier. XLIV (9, 467). Queensland, Australia. 18 May 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "General Election". The Brisbane Courier. LII (11, 915). Queensland, Australia. 23 March 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "The Elections". The Brisbane Courier. LV (12, 850). Queensland, Australia. 20 March 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.