Obituaries Australia

John Annear, 1889

State Library of Queensland, 191877

It will be learned with great regret that the Hon. John Thomas Annear, M.L.C., died at his residence, Roseneath, Harcourt-street, Teneriffe, at 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, after a long illness. He had been gradually failing for the past 12 months. It will be remembered by his many friends that he was taken seriously ill at the opening of the last session of Parliament, on November 2 of last year. Since that time he has been unable to leave his bed. He was constantly attended by Dr. Wilson, and latterly also by Dr. Jackson, but their efforts to prolong life were unavailing, and the end came as no surprise.

The late gentleman was born at Penryn, in Cornwall, England, on June 3, 1842, and he was therefore almost 68 years of age at the time of his death. He came to Queensland at the age of 21, arriving in Brisbane in 1868. A stonemason by trade, he secured steady work in the Ipswich district, and was not long in becoming a contractor of considerable capabilities, a fact which is testified to by many of the principal edifices in that city, which he helped to build. He was attracted to Gympie at the time of the gold fever in that district, and later continued in contract work at Maryborough, and in conjunction with the late Mr. John Thorn he constructed the Gympie Maryborough railway. In 1886 he returned to Brisbane, and the firm of Cowley and Annear, suppliers of contractors' materials, was formed. He was an active participant in municipal affairs, and for many years he was a member of the Maryborough Town Council, being elected Mayor of the town on several occasions. He was more prominent as a politician, however, and represented Maryborough in the State Parliament for no less than 19 years. During that time he was appointed as Chairman of Committees, a position in which he gave general satisfaction for a period of seven successive years. He was also chairman of the Works Commission of 1900. Throughout his career in the Legislative Assembly he was a strong supporter of the Conservative party, and above all a fearless political fighter. In 1901 Mr. Annear resigned his seat to stand as a candidate for the Wide Bay electorate in the Federal Parliament, but was defeated by the present Prime Minister of Australia. In the following year he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was still a member at the time of his death, and he has acted as Chairman of Committees in that Chamber. An Oddfellow for 49 years, he was also a Mason, and belonged to the Foresters' Lodge. Prior to leaving the old land, he served in the Cornish Volunteers, and afterwards held a commission as lieutenant in the Maryborough Volunteers. It will be seen that he was a man of all-round qualifications. Always a trusty friend, he was recognised politically as a sturdy opponent, who was never afraid to speak his mind, whatever the circumstances, and was accordingly as much esteemed by Opposition members as by members of his own party. He was well known throughout the State, and leaves many sorrowing friends, particularly in the North. In political circles he will be greatly missed by members of all parties. Since Saturday numerous messages of condolence have been received by his bereaved family from all parts of Australia, and even from the old country.

The deceased leaves a widow and two daughters, one of whom is the wife of Mr. J. L. Hollander, manager of the Queensland Brewery, Brisbane, the other being married to Mr. Frank E. Walker, sub-collector of Customs at Bowen. The funeral will leave the deceased's late residence at 11 o'clock this morning for the Toowong cemetery.

The Brisbane Municipal Council will be represented at the funeral, and aldermen are requested to assemble at the Town Hall at 9.30 a.m.