Robert Dunsmure (23 December 1852 - 4 August 1894) was a pastoralist and politician in colonial

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 , establishe ...

. 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 h ...

from 1888 to 1893, representing the electorate of Maranoa.

Early life

Memorial to Robert Dunsmure, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh

Robert Dunsmure was born on 23 December 1852 in Edinburgh, the fourth son of Dr

James Dunsmure Dr James Dunsmure FRSE FRCSEd (23 April 1814 – 15 October 1886) was a Scottish surgeon. He served as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Life He was born at 33 George Street in Edinburgh on 23 April 1814 the son of S ...

and his wife Catherine (née Hill). They lived at 39 North Castle Street in the New Town. This prestigious Georgian house was the former home of Sir

Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy ...

. He was educated at the

Edinburgh Academy The Edinburgh Academy is an independent day school in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was opened in 1824. The original building, on Henderson Row in the city's New Town, is now part of the Senior School. The Junior School is located on Arboretum Ro ...

Pastoralist

Dunsmure came to Australia in 1866, where he gained colonial experience on H. C. Douglas's property, Bringenbrong, in the Upper Murray District in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. In 1874, he formed a partnership with Mr Douglas and Mr Menzies and bought Eurella Station from

Thomas McIlwraith Sir Thomas McIlwraith (17 May 1835 – 17 July 1900) was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland. He was Premier of Queensland from 1879 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893. In common with most po ...

and Mr Robinson. Dunsmure was the manager of the property for the rest of his life.

Politics

In the

1888 Queensland colonial election Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Aust ...

, Dunsmure defeated Herbert Hunter by a large majority and was elected to the

representing the electorate of Maranoa. He held the seat until the

1893 Queensland colonial election Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = ...

, which he did not contest.

Later life

Dunsmure died on Friday 4 August 1894 at his property Eurella Station near Amby, Queensland aged 42 years. He had contracted a severe cold which led to an inflammation of the liver, causing his death. Dunsmure was a foundation member of the Maranoa Masonic Lodge. His body was taken to the masonic hall in Roma where his funeral was held. The funeral cortege from the hall to the cemetery was held by his brother masons, each carrying a sprig of wattle blossom. The burial were conducted according to the rites of the Church of England chaplain and of the Masonic order, each mason placing the sprig of wattle on the coffin. His father erected a memorial to Robert and his brothers in Dean Cemetery in western

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

. It lies at the start of the dividing wall between the original cemetery and the northern extension.

References

Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly 1852 births 1894 deaths 19th-century Australian politicians {{Australia-politician-stub