Thomas Beirne (businessman)

Thomas Charles Beirne KSG (1860–1949) was an early businessman, politician and philanthropist in colonial and federation era Australia.[1]

The Hon

TC Beirne

KSG
Queensland Legislative Council
In office
27 July 1905 – 23 March 1922
Personal details
Born
Thomas Charles Beirne

(1860-09-09)9 September 1860
Ballymacurly, Roscommon, Ireland
Died21 April 1949(1949-04-21) (aged 88)
Brisbane, Australia
Resting placeNudgee Cemetery
NationalityIrish Australian
Spouse(s)Annie Kavanagh (m.1887 d.1940)
RelationsNeal Macrossan (son-in-law), Henry Douglas (son-in-law), Alex Douglas (great grandson)
OccupationDraper, company director

Early life

Thomas Beirne was born on 9 July 1860 in County Roscommon at Ballymacurly, near Ballymoe, the third child of eight to parents considered to be 'the small farmer class'.[2]

The young Beirne migrated to Melbourne on the Orient steamer SS Lusitania (1871) boarding in December 1883 and arriving in February 1884. From Williamstown, seeking out work, he settled with Eyre and Shepherd as a junior salesman in the manchester department at 30 shillings a week.[2] After being a joint manager of the Richmond branch, but not being accepted for a wage rise to 45 shillings, Beirne left Eyre and Shepherd, and started to work with Foy and Gibson until mid-1885.

Business life

After a letter from Mr. M . D. Pigott, an old employer from Tuam, Ireland, and now in Brisbane, Queensland, Beirne left for Brisbane to be an equal partner in a business. He found the shop in Stanley Street disappointing, left, and found a job with Allan and Stark also on Stanley Street. With some opportunity and planning, in 1886, the firm of Pigott and Beirne was opening at Stanley Street opposite Annerley Road. After a fire to the uninsured business, the partnership was dissolved in August 1891, and 'T.C.B.' with £1200 opened a small store in Fortitude Valley, 24 feet (7.3 m) frontage and 50 feet (15 m) deep, with an overhead dwelling.[2]

Advertisement in the Brisbane Telegraph newspaper from T. C. Beirne department store

These series of business ventures saw him establish a successful drapery business in Brisbane. A number of years later, T. C. Beirne and Company Proprietary Limited was registered with a nominal capital of £1000000.[2] The TC Beirne Department Store building is now heritage-listed.

In Brisbane Beirne became an active member of the Brisbane Traders' Association, including its president in 1901. He was also a board member of Brisbane Tramway Co, Australian Mutual Provident Society, the Atlas Assurance Co and the British Australian Cotton Association.[3]

Politics

He was also involved in the early stages of the Australian Labour Party and from 1905 till 1922 he was a member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[4]

Benefactor

Beirne was Warden of the University of Queensland and in 1935 donated £20,000 to establish the TC Beirne School of Law.

He was also a benefactor of Holy Name Cathedral, Brisbane, the Pius XII Regional Seminary at Banyo, Mater Misericordiae Hospital and Duchesne College in the University of Queensland.

He was awarded a papal knighthood of the Order of St Gregory by pope Pius XI and was a close associate with politicians William Higgs and Frank McDonnell and was friends with Archbishop James Duhig.[1]

Later life

Beirne died in 1949. His funeral, which was presided over by Archbishop James Duhig, was held at St Stephen's Cathedral[5] and proceeded to the Nudgee Cemetery.[1] Despite his generosity during his lifetime, he left an estate of over £1.24 million which was mainly bequeathed to his five daughters and numerous grandchildren.[6]

Legacy

Thomas Beirne is remembered today by:

A number of buildings associated with Thomas Beirne are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, including:

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References
  1. Beirne, Thomas Charles (1860–1949) – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. "They know him as "T.C.B."". Worker. 58, (3137). Queensland, Australia. 1 September 1947. p. 7. Retrieved 4 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  3. TC Beirne' at Brisbane's History in photographs.
  4. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  5. "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1949. p. 12. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  6. "THIS MAN MADE A MILLION". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 23 June 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  7. "TC Beirne Park | Hendra Toddler Playground - Brisbane Kids". Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. "TCB On the Valley Mall". www.tcbcentre.com.au. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  9. "Glengariff (entry 600222)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  10. "TC Beirne Complex and Fortuneland Centre (entry 601395)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  11. "Bulolo Flats (entry 602188)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
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