Burstow, Thomas

Thomas Burstow holds a special place in Toowoomba’s history.

As the person instrumental in gaining city status for Toowoomba, he was the first Mayor to wear the robes of that office.

Toowoomba was proclaimed a city in 1904, the year that Thomas Burstow was elected to his first 12-month term as Mayor. He was also elected Mayor in 1907 and 1919.

Thomas Stephen Burstow, the son of a furniture manufacturer and merchant, was born in London in February 1858.

He was educated at private and public schools at Sussex and after leaving school, learnt building and construction with his father. He subsequently became foreman for Messrs James Barnes & Co., builders of Brighton.

Between 1874 and 1878 he served as a sergeant with the 4th Sussex Artillery Volunteers.

He married a daughter of Mr W Hill of Brighton in 1879 and a few years later the couple sailed for Queensland. They arrived in Toowoomba in the early 1880’s and Thomas worked at the Toowoomba Foundary for a short period.

In 1883 he became foreman for local builder and contractor Mr James Renwick and the following year saw similar service with Messrs Paterson and Henderson.

He established his own business in 1893 and about the same time, acquired the cabinet-making business of R A Dakers in Bell Street. The business grew and while the Bell Street premises were maintained for furniture manufacture, a retail business was opened in Ruthven Street.

Thomas Burtow’s distinguished service in local government began in 1901 when he was elected to represent the then East Ward. Excepting 1911, he maintained his seat in the council for the next 27 years.

He was noted throughout Queensland for his comprehensive knowledge of local government regulations and laws and for over 20 years represented Toowoomba on the executive of the Local Authorities Association (now Local Government Association). He was president of the association three times.

He was one of the most distinguished freemasons in Queensland and was associated with the craft for 37 years and for 14 years was the chief of Scottish Freemasonry in Queensland.

He also gave his support to musical societies and was a president of the Austral Association where Toowoomba’s great festivals were held.

He was also a member of the Toowoomba Ambulance Committee, a representative on the QATB executive and a president of the first council of the Royal Society of St George.

In 1907 he stood as a Liberal candidate for Drayton and Toowoomba but was unsuccessful.

Thomas Burstow died on July 24, 1928, aged 70.