Obituaries Australia

Benjamin Babbidge, n.d.

Brisbane City Council, BCC-B120-33430

Mr. Benjamin Harris Babbidge, one of the oldest and best known citizens of Queensland, passed away yesterday morning at 10 o’clock. He had been in indifferent health for the past six months, and recently entered the Victoria Private Hospital, where he died. Mr. Babbidge leaves a widow, three daughters, six sons, twenty-five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Born at Newport, in the Isle of White, in 1835, he served an apprenticeship in the ship and blacksmithing depot of the celebrated shipbuilders, J. and W. White, of Cowes. Afterwards he sailed for Australia, and, landing in Moreton Bay, remained with Mr. J. Petrie for nine years. After the failure of the Port Curtis gold rush, he settled in Brisbane, and started business as a ship's smith. In 1879 Mr. Babbidge was elected to the City Council, and in 1885 became Mayor of Brisbane and president of the Traffic Board, resigning from the board in 1887. He established railway rolling stock manufacturing works in Hope Street, South Brisbane, and was very successful. The manufacture of agricultural implements was also an important feature of his business. He took an active part in the formation of what is known as the McIlwraith or protective tariff. The funeral will start from his residence in Dauphin Terrace, Highgate Hill, at 3 o'clock this afternoon.