Denver Edward Beanland AM (born 26 January 1945) is a former politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and leader of the Queensland Liberal Party.

Denver Beanland
Denver Beanland, 2019
Manager of Opposition Business in Queensland
In office
30 July 1998 – 17 February 2001
LeaderRob Borbidge
Preceded byTerry Mackenroth
Succeeded byKev Lingard
Attorney-General of Queensland
and Minister for Justice
In office
26 February 1996 – 26 June 1998
PremierRob Borbidge
Preceded byMatt Foley
Succeeded byMatt Foley
Deputy Leader of the
Queensland Liberal Party
In office
31 July 1995 – 23 June 1998
LeaderJoan Sheldon
Preceded bySanto Santoro
Succeeded byBob Quinn
In office
19 December 1989 – 13 May 1990
LeaderAngus Innes
Preceded byPeter Beard
Succeeded byDavid Watson
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Justice
In office
2 November 1992 – 19 February 1996
LeaderRob Borbidge
Preceded byTony FitzGerald
Succeeded byMatt Foley
Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party
In office
13 May 1990 – 11 November 1991
DeputyDavid Watson
Preceded byAngus Innes
Succeeded byJoan Sheldon
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Indooroopilly
Toowong (1986–1992)
In office
1 November 1986 – 17 February 2001
Preceded byEarle Bailey
Succeeded byRonan Lee
Personal details
Born
Denver Edward Beanland

(1945-01-26) 26 January 1945 (age 79)
Kilcoy, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationBank officer

Early life edit

Denver Edward Beanland was born on 26 January 1945 at St Margaret's Private Hospital, Kilcoy, Queensland, the only son of Norman Edward Beanland and his wife Gwendoline (née Runge). The family lived a dairy farm called Avondale (originally owned by Beanland's grandfather Herbert Beanland) located at Mary Smokes Creek, between Kilcoy and Woodford.[1]

Beanland attended the Kalangara State School at Stoney Creek, four miles from his home. He continued his secondary education at Caboolture State High School.[1]

Local politics edit

Beanland was elected as an Alderman of the Brisbane City Council in 1976 and served on that Council, including a period as Deputy Lord Mayor of Brisbane until 1986.

State politics edit

In 1986, Beanland was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, in 1986, as the member for Toowong. He represented Toowong until 1992, at which time it was renamed Indooroopilly.[2]

Beanland was leader of the Liberal Party in the Queensland Parliament from May 1990 until November 1991, when he was ousted by Joan Sheldon.[3] Although he did not return to the Liberal leadership, he became deputy leader in 1995.

Denver Beanland served as Attorney-General in the Borbidge government from February 1996 to 20 June 1998.[2] He also served as Opposition Spokesperson, prior to 1996, for a number of portfolios including Justice, Transport and Land Management.[4]

In 1997 a vote of no-confidence was passed against him as Attorney-General over his role in the Carruthers and Connolly-Ryan Inquiries. In an unprecedented decision he refused to resign in the wake of the no-confidence vote, citing his lack of personal responsibility for the scandal.[5]

He was supported by Premier Rob Borbidge who says he decides who is in his Cabinet not Parliament.

He lost his seat of Indooroopilly at the 2001 state election.[6]

Later life edit

After leaving politics, Beanland studied at the University of Queensland, completing a Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in history in 2007. The topic of his PhD thesis was former Queensland Premier Thomas McIlwraith.[7]

Denver Beanland has been the President of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland since 2020 after having previously been its President from 2007 to 2009.[8] In 2019 he was elected a Fellow of the Society.[9]

In 2015 Beanland was appointed by the Abbott government to chair the National Archives Advisory Council.[10][11]

On 7 June 2020, Beanland was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the people and Parliament of Queensland, and to archival and historical organisations.[12]

Publications edit

  • — (1993). The Family of Thomas and Lydia Emma Kinton Beanland. Boolarong. ISBN 978-0-86439-155-1.
  • — (2007). "PhD thesis". Queensland Caesar: Sir Thomas McIlwraith (PDF). School of History, Philosophy, Religion, and Classics, University of Queensland.
  • — (2009). A Court Apart: The District Court of Queensland. Supreme Court of Queensland Library. ISBN 978-0-9803220-4-0.
  • — (2013). The Queensland Caesar, Sir Thomas McIlwraith. Brisbane Boolarong Press. ISBN 978-1-922109-55-2.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Denver Edward Beanland". The Family of Thomas and Lydia Emma Kinton Beanland. Denver Beanland. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Despite snaring the seat of Indooroopilly by a mere 200 votes after preferences were allocated, Denver Beanland's political future is still up in the air". South West News. Brisbane, Australia. 24 June 1998. p. 0.
  3. ^ "Denver Edward Beanland". The Family of Thomas and Lydia Emma Kinton Beanland. Denver Beanland. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Liberals Line-Up". South West News. Brisbane, Australia. 8 July 1998. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Denver Beanland Interview", Qld Speaks, 01:30:45,
  6. ^ "Indooroopilly tenure over for Beanland". South West News. Brisbane, Australia. 7 March 2001. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Denver Beanland". Queensland speaks. The Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Management and Leadership". Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Dr Denver Beanland AM, Advisory Council Chair". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Denver Beanland to chair the National Archives Advisory Council". citynews.com.au. Canberra City News. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Dr Denver Beanland (Chair)". National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  12. ^ Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2006913. Retrieved 19 August 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Toowong
1986–1992
Abolished
New seat Member for Indooroopilly
1992–2001
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland
1990–1991
Succeeded by