Historical Context
Queensland was still only in its infancy, having been made a self governing colony in 1859. Samuel Griffith was the Premier of Queensland, over the Black February period, although in March 1893, shortly after the events he resigned in order to join the Supreme Court of Queensland. Thomas McIlwraith then became Premier of Queensland. It was still ten years before the Commonwealth of Australia would be formed, at which time Queensland became a State.
Brisbane in 1891 had a population of 84,000 people. The area was split between several small local governments (they were not amalgamated until 1925) John McMaster was Mayor of Brisbane Municipal Council, which contained the City Centre, and was the most important of the local government authorities.
Read more about this topic: 1893 Brisbane Flood
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