Nationality English Australian Religion Baptist | Full Name George Phillips Occupation Surveyor, Engineer Succeeded by George Charles Sim | |
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Spouse(s) Elizabeth Susan Bourner (m.1871 d.1943) Died 2 June 1921, Alderley, Australia | ||
George Phillips (1843 – 2 June 1921) was a surveyor, and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in Australia.
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Early days
Phillips was born in Burslem, Staffordshire, to parents George Phillips, and his wife Emily (née Onge). After arriving in New South Wales in 1851 he was educated at Wood's private school in Parramatta. He was a Solicitor's clerk and in 1862 moved to Brisbane and was a Surveyor and Engineer on William Landsborough's expedition in search of Burke and Wills.
From 1879 to 1896 he was an engineer for the Queensland Railways and later Inspector in the Railways Surveys for Southern Queensland. In 1884 he patented a system of U-shaped steel railway track that could be used in the Gulf Country where floods and termites made normal railway track infeasible. For this reason, Queensland Rail placed him in charge of developing the Normanton to Croydon railway line.
Political career
Phillips served in the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the seat of Carpentaria from 1893 until 1896.
Personal life
On the 6 February 1871 Phillips married Elizabeth Susan Bourner (died 1943) in Bowen and together had nine sons and six daughters.
He died in 1921 and his funeral proceeded from the Brisbane City Tabernacle to the Toowong Cemetery.
Legacy
The Norman to Croydon railway line was heritage-listed in 1992 and is still in use today by the Gulflander tourist train.