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Queensland Premier cops a bollocking from the bush

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Sir Samuel Griffith (pictured) who could not open his new railway line after he threw a party that no one attended.

Most country folk might consider it a pleasure to attend a party sponsored by the Premier of Queensland however back in 1892 the town of Longreach would not defer to city snobs. Unique forces were at work in the area which was very innovative and unpredictable territory. Longreach would soon see the pioneering of the Australian aviation industry and it had a kindred spirit with stirry Barcaldine, birthplace of the Aussie union movement and the Labor Party. Dignified state Premier Sir Samuel Griffith had pushed for the extension of the railway line from Rockhampton to Longreach however rather than being embraced by the bush, his visit would turn out to be a heartbreaker.

As far back as 1859 the British government in granting colonial status, recognised that Qld might be too unwieldy and recommended further division. Officials never again mentioned this matter but “northerners” would not forget. In 1863 when Rockhampton had just 800 residents there was strong support in Central and northern Queensland for separation from Brisbane. Residents in these areas felt they were subsidising the overserviced and spoilt south-east corner, a complaint repeated again and again to this present day.

Suspicious of the big end of town

Bush settlers who felt they were treated like poor relations became fertile soil for noted separatist, politician and man of the people William Rea. In 1874 he told the Queensland Governor, “what is there in the north, My Lord, but separate baskets of chips… to be used for the sole purpose of boiling the pot for Brisbane?” The decision to extend the railway westwards was seen as another bribe to discourage rebellion in the north. It was viewed with suspicion in the bush where railway ballast packers in 1890 went on strike in support of the shearers campaign for compulsory unionism. Also to prove their sincerity in the strike the railway line workers requested an extra sixpence a day. This would have boosted their pay through the mossie infested wet season that year to nine shillings a day but contractors wouldn’t give an inch.

Railway was rusting in the sun

For months the unfinished line sat rusting in the sun, a mere 12 km past Barcaldine and 98 km shy of Longreach. Eventually strike breakers were employed to get it restarted. In 1891 contractors pushed on with hand tools and animal power amid generous amounts of heckling.

Unionists were furious. In the shearers strike the year before they had proved they were capable of a bit of rough stuff. To try to prevent scab labour coming in by train, someone had tried to sabotage the railway by cutting through a bridge pylon and wedging some timber across the tracks. State troopers were called in to get the scab labour safely to their destination. To end the ballast packers strike the troopers were again called on to protect imported workers as they finished the line to Longreach. By February 1992 the job was done and officialdom heaved a sigh of relief. That month a special train was dispatched to bring Sir Samuel Griffith and his entourage out to sunny Longreach for a gala opening of the line. Dignitaries totaling 70 were collected from Brisbane, Rockhampton and Emerald. They had to sit up for the journey while Sir Samuel conserved his strength with a sleeping carriage. h4. A festive Rockhampton crowd could not have imagined the bollocking that awaited Queensland’s Premier as he left on the historic leg of the trip to Longreach.

The Rockhampton rent-a-crowd (pictured above) could not imagine the bollocking the premier would receive.

The inconvenience of sitting up didn’t bother dignified who were about to turn a great page in the state’s history. Had the Premier known the stress that was awaiting him he would have savored every moment of rest. At Barcaldine the Premier alighted for 90 minutes to enjoy some railway breakfast and a lively brass band. These were the supporters he’d been seeking. The bush could not get much better than this. The band however didn’t drown out the discord of some disaffected workers who shouted “three groans for Griffiths.” Probably just some isolated nutters thought the Premier. However no one who worked on the mammoth project was allowed to board the train at “Barky” as this was a train for pomp and grandeur.

Ready for a big welcome

Finally the locomotive pulled into Longreach with a flourish of steam and generous toots of its whistle and the party braced itself for the big welcome. The 70 good folk, freshly shaved and immaculately turned out, stepped out into Longreach sunshine and were met by nobody.

“Didn’t someone notify this township of our intended arrival?” asked Sir Samuel. Everyone nodded. “Well then there must be some mistake…. lets find the people.”

Unbeknown to the official party, the town’s leading lights had organised a race meeting as a protest against politicians, and what the railway represented: a buffer against separation. Furthermore Longreach was miffed at not being consulted about the railway’s official opening. This town wasn’t going to be any premier’s “rent-a-crowd.” Sir Samuel found himself a buggy and rode out to meet the townsfolk where he planned to make a speech and declare open the railroad. At the racetrack he stood up in the buggy and attempted to address the crowd but was taken aback by a barrage of yelling, booing and hooting. This brought a cordon of police around the Premier who was visibly shaken by such boorish treatment. Things went a bit quiet while folk concentrated on the racing programme. After awhile Sir Samuel perceived a lull in proceedings, gathered his courage, cleared his throat and began again to address the crowd.

I expect to be treated properly

“I am a visitor and expect to be treated properly…..” The hooting and booing reached a crescendo.

“You are all lunatics,” retorted the Premier with disgust as he beat a hasty retreat. This was no way to treat a government which had just spent millions of pounds on an outback railway line.

On returning to Mrs Hutchinson’s Hotel he perceived a small cheering crowd, just a handful who couldn’t make it to the races.

Was it a mirage? It was an oasis in a political desert. Here were some friendly townspeople even if only a minority. Buoyed by this he hastily arranged for a garden party under a marquee in the hotel grounds. The 70 officials dined with the handfull of locals as police kept booing protesters at bay and the town added the final insult to injury.

Right at the new Longreach Railway Station, a meeting was held for a political candidate sympathetic to the recent shearers strike.

Just a block away, Longreach staged its own gala ball as a working man’s tribute to the arrival of the railway in the town and guess who wasn’t invited: The Premier and his 70 dignified guests from the Big End of Town.

Rubbing salt into the wound

A relieved Premier Griffith left by train the next morning and till this day this railway line has never been officially opened. A bit more dirt was sprinkled on city sandwiches one month later on March 5 when shearer Tommy Ryan won the by-election in the seat of Barcoo, comfortably beating the Premier’s preferred candidate.

Ryan was regarded as the first true representative of the working classes and an ever-present reminder to dignified Sir Samuel Griffith that you cannot take country people for granted or treat them like fools.
(my thanks to railways historian, Isabel Hoch)

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