DAWSON, Andrew (1863-1910)

usually known as Anderson Dawson

politician, first labour premier of Queensland

was born at Rockhampton, Queensland, on 16 July 1863. He came of poor parents and had no more than a primary school education. His first employment was as a miner at Charters Towers. In 1885 he went to the Kimberley rush in Western Australia, but having little success returned to Queensland, and was elected first president of the Miners' Union. In 1891 he was chairman of the Charters Towers strike committee, and vice-president of the Queensland provincial council of the Australian Labour federation. He took up journalism and for a time was editor of the Charters Towers Eagle. In 1893 he was returned as a Labour candidate for Charters Towers in the Queensland legislative assembly, and retained the seat at the 1896 and 1899 elections. When the Dickson (q.v.) government resigned on 1 December 1899 Dawson was sent for as leader of the opposition and formed a ministry, which was, however, defeated directly the house met. At the beginning of 1900 Dawson resigned his leadership of the Labour party on account of ill-health, but at the first federal election for the senate he was returned at the head of the Queensland poll. In April 1904 when J. C. Watson formed the first federal Labour government Dawson was given the portfolio of minister for defence, and showed himself to be a capable administrator. He lost his seat at the federal election of December 1906 and died on 20 July 1910.

Dawson was a thoroughly honest man devoted to his party and his country. He was an excellent speaker, knowing what he wanted to say and saying it clearly. His early death was a loss to the politics of the period.

The Brisbane Courier, 21 July 1910; C. A. Bernays, Queensland Politics During Sixty Years.