Thomas Charles Beirne KSG (1860–1949) was an early businessman, politician and philanthropist in colonial and federation era Queensland,[1] Australia.[2]
TC Beirne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Queensland Legislative Council | |
| In office 27 July 1905 – 23 March 1922 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Charles Beirne 9 September 1860 Ballymacurly, Roscommon, Ireland |
| Died | 21 April 1949 (aged 88) Brisbane, Australia |
| Resting place | Nudgee Cemetery |
| Nationality | Irish Australian |
| Spouse | Annie Kavanagh (m.1887 d.1940) |
| Relations | Neal Macrossan (son-in-law), Henry Douglas (son-in-law), Alex Douglas (great grandson) |
| Occupation | Draper, company director |
Early life edit
Thomas Beirne was born on 9 July 1860 in County Roscommon at Ballymacurly, near Ballymoe, the third child of eight to parents considered to be 'the small farmer class'.[3]
The young Beirne migrated to Melbourne on the Orient steamer SS Lusitania (1871) boarding in December 1883 and arriving in February 1884. From Williamstown, seeking out work, he settled with Eyre and Shepherd as a junior salesman in the manchester department at 30 shillings a week.[3] After being a joint manager of the Richmond branch, but not being accepted for a wage rise to 45 shillings, Beirne left Eyre and Shepherd, and started to work with Foy and Gibson until mid-1885.
Business life edit
After a letter from Mr. M . D. Pigott, an old employer from Tuam, Ireland, and now in Brisbane, Queensland, Beirne left for Brisbane to be an equal partner in a business. He found the shop in Stanley Street disappointing, left, and found a job with Allan and Stark also on Stanley Street. With some opportunity and planning, in 1886, the firm of Pigott and Beirne was opening at Stanley Street opposite Annerley Road. After a fire to the uninsured business, the partnership was dissolved in August 1891, and 'T.C.B.' with £1200 opened a small store in Fortitude Valley, 24 feet (7.3 m) frontage and 50 feet (15 m) deep, with an overhead dwelling.[3]
These series of business ventures saw him establish a successful drapery business in Brisbane. A number of years later, T. C. Beirne and Company Proprietary Limited was registered with a nominal capital of £1000000.[3] The TC Beirne Department Store building is now heritage-listed.
In Brisbane Beirne became an active member of the Brisbane Traders' Association, including its president in 1901. He was also a board member of Brisbane Tramway Co, Australian Mutual Provident Society, the Atlas Assurance Co and the British Australian Cotton Association.[4]
In 2021Thomas Charles Beirne was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.[5]
Politics edit
He was also involved in the early stages of the Australian Labour Party and from 1905 till 1922 he was a member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[6]
Benefactor edit
As one of Australia’s first millionaires, T. C. Beirne’s generous philanthropy created lasting community legacies.[5] Beirne was Warden of the University of Queensland and in 1935 donated £20,000 to establish the TC Beirne School of Law.
He was also a benefactor of Holy Name Cathedral, Brisbane, the Pius XII Regional Seminary at Banyo, Mater Misericordiae Hospital and Duchesne College in the University of Queensland.
He was awarded a papal knighthood of the Order of St Gregory by pope Pius XI and was a close associate with politicians William Higgs and Frank McDonnell and was friends with Archbishop James Duhig.[2]
Later life edit
Beirne died in 1949. His funeral, which was presided over by Archbishop James Duhig, was held at St Stephen's Cathedral[7] and proceeded to the Nudgee Cemetery.[2] Despite his generosity during his lifetime, he left an estate of over £1.24 million which was mainly bequeathed to his five daughters and numerous grandchildren.[8]
The State Library of Queensland holds the T.C. Beirne company Records[9] as well as examples of his catalogues.[10]
Legacy edit
Thomas Beirne is remembered today by:
- T C Beirne Park, a park that once formed part of the grounds of his Hendra home, Glengariff[11]
- TC Beirne Department Store, now the T C Beirne Centre, a shopping center in Fortitude Valley[12]
- TC Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland
A number of buildings associated with Thomas Beirne are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, including:
- his home Glengariff in Hendra[13]
- his retail premises TC Beirne Department Store[14]
- accommodation built for his staff Bulolo Flats[1]
In 2021, Beirne was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b "Bulolo Flats (entry 602188)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ a b c Beirne, Thomas Charles (1860–1949) Archived 24 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d "They know him as "T.C.B."". Worker. Vol. 58, no. 3137. Queensland, Australia. 1 September 1947. p. 7. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ TC Beirne' Archived 21 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine at Brisbane's History in photographs.
- ^ a b "T. C. Beirne". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1949. p. 12. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ "THIS MAN MADE A MILLION". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 23 June 1949. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "R 341 T C Beirne Records". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "A Scotsman, an Irishman and a Tasmanian set up shop [blog post]". State Library of Queensland. 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "TC Beirne Park | Hendra Toddler Playground - Brisbane Kids". Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "TCB On the Valley Mall". www.tcbcentre.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Glengariff (entry 600222)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "TC Beirne Complex and Fortuneland Centre (entry 601395)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame | T.C. Beirne KSG (1860-1949). State Library Of Queensland. Retrieved 26 February 2023.