Thomas Bridges (Australian politician)
| Thomas Bridges | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Nundah |
|
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In office 21 March 1896 – 18 May 1907 |
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| Preceded by | George Agnew |
| Succeeded by | Richard Sumner |
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In office 2 October 1909 – 16 March 1918 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Sumner |
| Succeeded by | Hubert Sizer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Bridges 12 November 1853 Nundah, Brisbane, Australia |
| Died | 4 June 1939 (aged 85) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Nundah Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Ministerialist |
| Other political affiliations |
Commonwealth Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Elizabeth Lee (d. 1938) |
| Occupation | farmer |
Thomas Bridges (12 November 1853 – 4 June 1939) was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in the seat of Nundah (21 March 1896 – 18 May 1907) as a member of the Ministerial Party and subsequently as a member of the Commonwealth Liberal Party (2 October 1909 – 16 March 1918).
Thomas Bridges was born on 12 November 1853 at Nundah, then known as German Station, to a local farmer, George Bridges and his wife, Mary Brightman, both immigrants from England. Thomas was the first of their Australian-born children, having already three born in England. His father built the Kedron Brook Hotel, a popular "watering hole" halfway between Brisbane and Sandgate, and constructed a bypass in Sandgate Road around Donkin's Hill, which led to the development of the village at German Station.
Bridges and a number of his siblings were amongst the first scholars enrolled at the new German Station National School, when it opened in 1865.
Initially Bridges followed in his father's footsteps as a farmer with interests in fruit and dairy, but later focussed exclusively on fruit, including pineapples, contributing to the success of fruit growing in the Nundah-Zillmere district.
Bridges married Margaret Elizabeth Lee on 17 July 1873 at the home of her parents, Rose Hill Farm near Cabbage Tree Creek, now known as Boondall. They had 13 children, namely: Emma Jane, Amelia Mary, Thomas George, Joseph Brightman, Charles Josiah, Margaret Mary Elizabeth, Joseph Silas, Samuel Brightman, Eva Violet Annie, Alice Maud Mildred, Laura Eunice Elsie, Willie and Lucy Alvena, of whom two died as infants.
Bridges made his first foray into public life as a member of the Nundah Divisional Board from 1883 to 1896, being chosen at its chairman on three occasions.
Being a popular and well-regarded local farmer, Bridges stood for the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the 1896 colonial election as a Ministerialist, beating the incumbent George Agnew by 60 votes in the electoral district of Nundah. Being a farmer accustomed to an early start to his working day, the late night sittings of Parliament took him by surprise. On his first late night sitting, he had to ask to be excused as he did not wish to miss the last train back to Nundah.
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