Munro, Archibald

Archibald Munro was one of Toowoomba’s most successful sawmillers when he was elected Mayor in 1894.

In partnership with his brother Duncan, he operated the Argyle Sawmills at Highfields during the latter half of the 19th century.

According to Alex Holtz in his book Toowoomba 1860-1910, the business of A & D Munro employed 25 men when established in 1874.

By 1910, three mills were in operation. At that time, timber from the mills supplied all parts of Queensland.

Besides his term as Mayor, Archibald Munro was a Toowoomba Council alderman from 1890-93, in 1895 and from 1898 until 1900.

According to local historian, Ron Douglas, Archibald Munro was born in 1833 at Argyleshire in Scotland and educated at Glasgow. He arrived in Toowoomba in 1871 and retired from his sawmilling business in 1888.

It is believed that excepting a brief period in Stanthorpe, Munro spent the remainder of his life in Toowoomba.

He died in July 1912, aged 78.