Trevethan, Thomas

Toowoomba’s 16th mayor was a coachbuilder by trade.

Thomas Trevethan was born at Kingsand, Cornwall, in 1844. He arrived in Queensland with his parents in 1853-54 and in Toowoomba during 1856.

Educated locally, Thomas Trevethan served his blacksmithing apprenticeship with a Mr Malcolm, a local blacksmith and builder of agricultural implements. Malcolm died several years later and Mr Trevethan completed his apprenticeship under local dray-builder “Jimmie” Murray.

Shortly after finishing his indentures, he joined a partnership with Mr James Stirling.

This dissolved after three years and Trevethan moved to Maryborough where he married Miss Bella McPherson, sister of a King’s Creek Justice of the Peace.

However, Thomas Trevethan’s heart was in Toowoomba and he moved back to start a successful blacksmithing business in Neil Street. This gradually extended into coachbuilding.

A friend of Toowoomba’s first Mayor, Mr W H Groom, Thomas Trevethan was elected a Council alderman in 1886 and Mayor in 1888. He remained in public life until his death on September 21, 1891.

While on Council, he directed his efforts towards improving Toowoomba’s water supply. He also took great interest in Toowoomba’s building societies and for many years was a valued member and office-bearer of the Congregational Church.

Although aged only 46 at the time of his death, Thomas Trevethan had already achieved the reputation of an energetic and successful businessman.

He was survived by his wife, seven daughters and five sons.

An obituary in the Toowoomba Chronicle on September 22, 1891 read: “He was, we believe, one of that rare class who are without enemies, and this notwithstanding the fact that he held strong views upon all matters that came under his notice.”

[addendum]Member for Lockyer, Mr Tony FitzGerald has supplied information about Mr Thomas Trevethan, his great-great uncle and Toowoomba’s 17th Mayor.

Mr FitzGerald has a copy of shipping records which show that Mrs Susan Trevethan, a 43 year old widow, arrived in Australia in November 1855 with her six children. The ship had left Plymouth in May of that year.

Also traveling with Mrs Trevethan was her sister Ann Littleton and her five children. One of Mrs Littleton’s daughters later married W.H. Groom, Toowoomba’s first Mayor.