John Watts (27 February 1821 – 18 November 1902) was a member of both 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 h ...

and the

Queensland Legislative Council The Queensland Legislative Council was the upper house of the parliament in the Australian state of Queensland. It was a fully nominated body which first took office on 1 May 1860. It was abolished by the Constitution Amendment Act 1921, which to ...

. Watts managed the

Eton Vale The Eton Vale Homestead Ruins are a heritage-listed site on the New England Highway, Cambooya, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. The former homestead was built from onwards by Arthur Hodgson, and was destroyed by fire in 1912. The site ...

station with

Arthur Hodgson __NOTOC__ Sir Arthur Hodgson Order of St Michael and St George, KCMG (29 June 1818 – 24 December 1902) was an Australian pioneer and politician. Early life Hodgson was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England; the second son of the Rev. ...

and later took it over. During his time in Queensland Watts wrote an account of farming and pastoral life, and the difficulties associated with it, as experienced by the early pioneers of South-East Queensland. He also commissioned an 18-carat gold swag necklace by Danish creator Christian Ludwig Qwist (1818-1877) who arrived in Australia circa 1852. The necklace, a fine example of silversmithing and craftsmanship. Watt's papers and necklace are held by the State Library of Queensland. The necklace is considered a treasure of the John Oxley Library.

Politics

Watts was a member of the first Parliament of Queensland, representing the seat of Drayton and Toowoomba from 2 May 1860 till his resignation due to ill health on 26 July 1862. He was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council on 8 April 1864 and resigned on 31 October 1864 due to having been elected as the member for Western Downs from 2 November 1864 till 18 June 1867.

Later life

Watts returned to England in 1867 and died at

Wimborne Wimborne Minster (often referred to as Wimborne, ) is a market town in Dorset in South West England, and the name of the Church of England church in that town. It lies at the confluence of the River Stour and the River Allen, north of Poole ...

, Dorset in 1902.

Legacy

During his time in Queensland Watts commissioned an 18-carat gold swag necklace by Danish creator Christian Ludwig Qwist (1818-1877) who arrived in Australia circa 1852. The necklace features five openwork carved gold hinged pendants and is a fine example of silversmithing and craftsmanship. The necklace is held by the State Library of Queensland and is considered a treasure of the John Oxley Library.

References

External links

John Watts Necklace ca. 1866 - 1869: treasure collection of the John Oxley Library

5823 John Watts Typescript 1901

6681 John Watts Necklace ca. 1866-69
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, John Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly Members of the Queensland Legislative Council 1821 births 1902 deaths 19th-century Australian politicians