McLeish, John

John McLeish was elected the 12th Mayor of Toowoomba in 1881.

Little has been recorded about John McLeish, however, it is known that he owned and operated a grocery business in Toowoomba during the latter half of the 19th century. He was a council alderman in 1879 and 1881.

Historian Mr Ron Douglas has records, which show McLeish had a business on the site of the Commonwealth Offices, next to the Old Town Hall in 1875.

In 1896, it is known that J P McLeish and Company, cash-grocers had premises in Ruthven Street where Duncan Thompson’s sports store is now located.

[addendum]Historian Mr Douglas has advised the Mayor featured recently in this series, Mr John McLeish, was the early pioneer of what was to become one of Toowoomba’s largest firms.

In the late 1860’s, he joined with a Mr D Grigg, who had established a business known as the Edinburgh Stores in Ruthven Street in 1865.

By the early 1870’s McLeish had acquired his partner’s interests in the firm and he subsequently took into partnership with a Mr Alexander.

McLeish retired from the partnership in the late 1870s and Alexander joined with a Mr Munro to form the business Alexander and Munro. The firm changed hands several times, becoming known as Annand and Booth, and as Booth’s after the Second World War.