George Henry Davenport (1831–1881) was a politician in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. He was a Member of the

Queensland Legislative Assembly The Legislative Assembly of Queensland is the sole chamber of the unicameral Parliament of Queensland established under the Constitution of Queensland. Elections are held every four years and are done by full preferential voting. The Assembly ...

Early life

Parents

Davenport's parents were George Francis and Eliza (née Davenport). Davenport was born in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, England on 30 October 1831 and was educated in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, Scotland. Davenport's father selected land in South Australia in 1839. Uncle (

Robert Davenport Robert Davenport may refer to: * Robert Davenport (dramatist) (fl. 1623–1639), English dramatist * Robert Davenport (Australian politician) (1816–1896), pioneer and politician in the Colony of South Australia * Robert Davenport (cricketer) (185 ...

) settled in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. Francis returned to England in 1841, and was accompanied by another uncle,

Samuel Davenport Sir Samuel Davenport (5 March 1818 – 3 September 1906) was one of the early settlers of Australia and became a landowner and parliamentarian in South Australia. Davenport was fourth son of George Davenport, a wealthy English banker, an ...

, in 1843 on the return to South Australia. Francis died soon after arriving, and Robert and Samuel settled on the estate. George followed his uncles to

soon after leaving school. After a few years he went to live in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Darling Downs

Davenport went to Toowoomba lured by land development. He looked to acquire a freehold property. C.B. Fisher became a partner in the scheme where it was shown that agriculture could be profitably combined with grazing. The property was called Headington Hill. All the newest and latest machinery was used on this property. Davenport was the member for the

Electoral district of Drayton and Toowoomba Electoral District of Drayton and Toowoomba was the original seat for the urban settlement on the eastern Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia. History Drayton and Toowoomba had 2 incarnations: 1859 to 1873 and 1878 to 1912. Its first incarnati ...

from 15 November 1878 to 1 January 1881. Davenport died on New Year's Day 1881 in

Toowoomba Toowoomba ( , nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar') is a city in the Toowoomba Region of the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia. It is west of Queensland's capital city Brisbane by road. The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 C ...

during his term of office. Queensland State Archives 2404 Davenports grave at Headington Hill with broken pillar and cast iron fence 1897

Religion

Davenport was a member of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

Marriages

Davenport married Elizabeth Young in Dalby on 27 May 1866.

References

Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly 1831 births 1881 deaths 19th-century Australian politicians {{Australia-politician-stub