After a distinguished career at the University and an exceptionally distinguished military career in the Second World War, Associate Professor Whitehouse had unfortunately fallen foul of the law and had been dismissed from the University in November 1955. His protest on the Maynes’ behalf appeared to have carried little weight. On the other hand, Whitehouse was a strategist. It is likely he was doing what he had done in Galmahra in 1927, raising a matter when there was a possibility of success.
Nine years earlier (1960) an appeal for funds had been launched to build the University a Great Hall. It had foundered for lack of support and the initial donors had seen nothing for their money. With the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Zelman Cowen at the helm, the project was revived and there was strong hope for the Hall’s completion. Whitehouse’s letter of protest was timely. In 1972, thirty-three years after the press was told that a building would be named after the Maynes, the new Hall was honoured by the name Mayne Hall. It is a most appropriate building to bear the name. Unfortunately, at all levels of the community it is generally thought to be the ‘‘Main’’ hall. Many buildings on the campus honour distinguished academics and carry the first and the family name of the person so honoured: Gordon Greenwood, Hartley Teakle, Zelman Cowen, J.D. Story and so on. With Mayne Hall, a simple change to James Mayne Hall would confirm that it is an honour name and prompt the question ‘‘Who was he?’’, thereby perpetuating a vital facet of the University’s history.
Mayne Hall is an architectural statement and its wide expanse of glass does not easily lend itself to portraits or any other embellishment. In 1981, in an effort to mollify those who believed the Maynes were not sufficiently recognised, a small bronze plaque with the supposed profiles of James and Mary Emelia was placed in Mayne Hall. As with the excellent portrait of James until recently tucked away in the Customs House, it is far from view and recognition, placed high in a small, dimly lit seating bay on the far side of the entrance to the auditorium. Few have ever noticed it. In 1974, when the new Mayne Hall proved very suitable for concerts, a Mayne String Quartet featuring leading Brisbane musicians was formed. In 1980 it became the Mayne String Trio, but was disbanded in 1986. The honour name died with it.
At the Medical School at Herston, the large annual income from the Mayne Bequest continues to help make the Faculty a viable entity. Some of that money finances two professorial chairs, one for medicine and one for surgery. Each originally bore the name Mayne Professor but by the mid 1980s the name Mayne had been dropped from both.
Until now it has been true to say that at the University of Queensland and for some 160,000 men and women who, to date, have studied at the St Lucia campus, the name Mayne has little significance. The majority would never have heard of the family. Nor is there anything to tell the thousands of citizens who at weekends enjoy sport, long walks, or relaxing in the magnificent riverside grounds, who it was that provided what must be one of the most splendid university sites in Australia. James and Mary Emelia would have taken great pride in the way the campus has been developed. No one, it seemed, had the courage to be proud of them. 1995 saw some change in that. The Senate of the University resolved that James’ and Mary Emelia’s significant contribution to the Medical Faculty would be recognised by calling the School at Herston the Mayne Medical School. It was so named at a ceremony in December 1996. By April 2001 James’ portrait, recently damaged, had still not been displayed in a place of honour for all to see on the St Lucia campus.
The University Library holds a sealed file, not to be opened before early in the twenty-first century. It is understood to contain the memoirs of several Brisbane medical men and may contain some material concerning James Mayne. It is to be hoped that those men who wrote for posterity personally knew their man, eschewed rumour and had a care for fact.
The false stories have been researched and shown to be what they are—cruel fabrications. It is a sad commentary on society that the good spread by James and Mary Emelia Mayne in their lifetime, which continues long after their deaths, took so long to be proudly proclaimed. The fact that some members of their family inherited a rogue gene and were driven by forces they could not control does not mean that the money donated by James and Mary Emelia Mayne is tainted. They gave to the University of Queensland its main campus at St Lucia, the large Veterinary Farm at Moggill, the valuable site of ‘‘Moorlands’’ and an income which by 1995 had grown to almost $1M a year to support the Faculty of Medicine.
James Mayne, the man who directed that generosity, should now be remembered by the words of William Jolly who spoke truly and sincerely when he said at James’ funeral, ‘‘In him the community lost a good friend.’’
Sources
Abbreviations
ADB Australian Dictionary of Biography
AO.NSW Archives Office, New South Wales
BC Brisbane Courier
MBC Moreton Bay Courier
NSWGG New South Wales Government Gazette
JOL John Oxley Library
QGG Queensland Government Gazette
QSA Queensland State Archives
QSL Queensland State Library
RCBAA Roman Catholic Brisbane Archdiocesan Archives
UQA University of Queensland Archives
UQFL University of Queensland Fryer Library
UQP University of Queensland Press
1. A Profitable Murder
The Cox murder: Archives Office, New South Wales, 9/6345 Supreme Court, Brisbane, Regina vs William Fyfe. 1848. Cedar Cutting: AO, NSW. 4/1099.2 Colonial Secretary Misc., Special Bundles.
2. Ireland to Australia
For immigration and the early years of Patrick Mayne and Mary McIntosh see AO, NSW, Bounty Index 28–42, rolls 1336 and 1343, Assisted Immigration Archives. For Kangaroo Point in C19th I have drawn on Brisbane History Group Papers No 6, ‘‘People, Places and Pageantry’’ 1987 and W. Ross Johnston, Brisbane—The First Thirty Years (Brisbane: Boolarong Publications, 1988). For a history of the slaughterhouse I read John Greig Smith’s ‘‘The Foundation of Kangaroo Point’’ in ‘‘People, Places and Pageantry’’; Moreton Bay Courier, various issues April 1848–October 1849; Queensland State Archives, CPS. Bench of Magistrates 1846. All land transactions were searched in NSW and Qld Government Gazettes; Qld Lands Office Register of Land Sales; QSA, Land Transfers, and the Immigration Register of Land Orders. For petty crime I consulted QSA, files and MBC, various issues. For Hotel Licenses see QSA, CPS Moreton Bay Record of Recognisances 1848–. Information on the McGrath and Pacey families came from a 1994 interview with a descendant, Mrs Kay Bothwell.
3. Law Courts and Land Deals
Much of Patrick’s life was traced through advertisements, public notices and court cases reported in the MBC; Queensland State Library, Colonial Secretary’s Letters; and QSA, Brisbane General Hospital file 1852; SCT/P7 Eccles.298, 1865, Mayne Estate accounts; QSA/TRE 15 Rosevale Station. The Thomas Dowse property sale was noted in Johnston, Brisbane—The First Thirty Years, p.123. Material on Dara is from N.J. Byrne, Robert Dunne: Archbishop of Brisbane 1830–1917 (St Lucia: UQP, 1991), p.71 and the Roman Catholic Brisbane Archdiocesan Archives.
4. Consolidating an Empire
For petitions and charitable funds see QSL, Colonial Secretary’s Letters, 1853–1854 and MBC, various issues. For Jacob Schelling’s death see MBC, 10.2.1858. Western Creek is now the Milton drain. The waterhole was in the vicinity of Lang Park. QSA hold Patrick’s will, SCT/P7 Eccles. 298, 1865 and the Darragh divorce papers, QSA, SCT/CH 6, No.85. Demolition of Dara is described in T.P. Boland, James Duhig (St Lucia: UQP, 1986), p.37. Material on the first town Council came from Brisbane Council Archives and G. Greenwood and J. Laverty, Brisbane 1859–1959. A History of Local Government (Brisbane City Council, 1959).
5. In and Out of Council
John Cameron’s reminiscences are at the Oxley Memorial Library. The Queen Street fire was reported in the Brisbane Courier 12.4.1846.
6. Life in Queen Street 1860–1865
7. Crisis After Crisis
For the Qld Steam Navigation Co., see Denis Cryle, The Press in Colonial Queensland (St Lucia: UQP, 1989) and MBC, various issues. Extra background material on Archbishop Dunne comes from his Letter Book held in microfilm at the QSL. Reference to the Cox murder is in Henry Stuart Russell, The Genesis of Queensland (NSW: Turner and Henderson, 1888), p.395 and J.J. Knight, In the Early Days (Brisbane: Sapsford and Co., 1895), pp.237–244. The Irish anecdote about horses at a murderer’s funeral came from Mr Ed Mulroy, grandson of a witness at the funeral. It is also noted by Gwen Harwood, Blessed City (Angus & Robertson, 1990), p.210. A 1993 interview with the late Mrs Thelma McConnell revealed that news of hereditary insanity in the Mayne family was given to the McConnells by Dr Lilian Cooper. For Mary Mayne’s difficulties with her husband’s debt, see QSA., Queensland Supreme Court, Equity Jurisdiction 4.11.1868 and Z55, SCT, Eccles.289. Also QGG., Nov.1869, Dec.1879. Bishop Quinn’s debts are noted by Byrne, p.64.
8. Out of the Ashes
The Mooney family information provided by Mr Barry Alexander in 1994 is held at RCBAA. Mary Mayne’s life is compiled from family documents held at QSA; Shaw’s Brisbane Directory and Squatters’ Guide, 1876; OML, S.W. Jack’s Cutting Book No 11; BC, Shipping Lists 29.3.1878. For Rosanna’s life I have drawn on N.J. Byrne, Sr Mary Xaverious, Sr Jean Marie, and the All Hallows’ Convent Archivist. (See Sources Ch.6). For the boys’ education I drew on the Estate accounts; Brisbane Grammar School Archives; RCBAA, St Killian’s School file; and records at the University of Sydney. Isaac’s legal training: QSA, SCT/CK11 and CK 12. The Markwell family information came from QSL, Grave Inscriptions and BC, 15.10.1868. It should be noted that Patrick Mayne was in Brisbane when Fyfe was executed and did not witness it as stated by H.S. Russell.
9. A Family Ostracised
For Isaac’s involvement with Mrs Kelly’s will see QSA, Z155, Eccles. I learned of the Walrus rumours from Mrs Libby Wager of Kenmore. The Walrus’ history is in Ronald Parsons, Paddle Steamers of Australasia (Lobethal, South Australia: R. Parsons, 1973). James qualified MRCS., LRCP., London University, 1890. For his association with Brisbane General Hospital see QSA.Hos 1, BGH. Minutes. M’ship of various societies is noted in Pugh’s Almanac, 1891–1903. For the family’s travel to Europe refer AO.NSW, Outward Bound X489,490, 1903. Information on homosexual activity in Brisbane came from Dr Clive Moore, ‘‘The Abominable Crime: First Steps Towards a Social History of Male Homosexuals in Colonial Queensland, 1859–1900’’ in Gay Perspectives II, ed. Robert Aldrich (Sydney: University of Sydney, 1993). Florence Davidson’s diary came from her granddaughter, Mrs Jill Bruxner.
10. The Tobita Murder and its Aftermath
The Tatsuzo Tobita papers are at QSA, Jus/N.180. 1904. The death was reported in BC, 10.6.1904. For James’ handling of Isaac’s illness see AO.NSW, R5/5885 Register of Patients and Admissions Book, Casebook No.6, and R5/5881 Register of Discharges, Removals and Deaths. For the death of Carl Markwell, see QSA, Jus/N 58, 1905. Rosanna’s deed of assignment is held with Isaac’s estate papers, QSA, Z1701, 294, 1905.
11. The Burden of Inheritance
I was told of the Moggill residents’ regard for James and Mary Emelia by Mrs Libby Wager. Material on Dr E.S. Jackson came from N. Parker and J. Pearn, eds, Ernest Sandford Jackson, (The Australian Medical Asscn (Qld Branch) and the Dept Child Health, University of Queensland, 1987), with particular reference to the chapters by Dr Clarence Leggett and Dr Geoffrey Kenny. For James’ interest in rowing see Pugh’s Almanac, various years. For his association with Dr Fred Whitehouse I drew on the University of Queensland Archives, S130, 56800/70250/01 Memorials Mayne, 1969. William’s will is held at QSA, SCT, Eccles.699, 1921. James Mayne’s relations with Archbishop Duhig are noted in Boland, Duhig, especially p.233. Additional material came from an interview with Mr Norman Jolly son of the former Mayor of Brisbane, William Jolly. For details of the Maynes’ major gifts of land, refer UQ Archives, and M. Thomis, A Place of Light & Learning (St Lucia: UQP, 1985). The article on the Brisbane Arcade is published in A & B Journal of Queensland, 7.11.1923; 7.2.1924.
12. Maynes and the University of Queensland
The debates over the sites are covered in Thomis, A Place of Light & Learning. The gift of the site is recorded in W.A. Jolly, The Inauguration of Greater Brisbane (held OML); various issues of the BC and Brisbane Telegraph, October 1926; Harrison Bryan, ‘‘The University of Queensland 1910–1960, an Essay Towards a History’’ (held UQFL). For Dr Whitehouse’s comments see UQFL, Galmahra, April 1927. Archbishop Duhig’s effort to build the Holy Name Cathedral is covered in Boland’s Duhig. With reference to the Archbishop’s financial difficulties, Boland notes (p.243) that he approached the Works Minister, Mr Sizer, with a plan to supply masses of Benedict stone for the University buildings. For James’ refusal to accept the care of Rosanna, refer RCBAA, James Mayne to James Duhig, 4.1.1930. The schedule of Rosanna’s land was provided by the Srs of Mercy, Brisbane Congregational Archives. James’ letters to the Haysoms are held UQFL. Dr Morgan Windsor provided the anecdote of his father’s association with James Mayne.
First published 1997 by University of Queensland Press
PO Box 6042, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia
Paperback edition 1998, reprinted three times
New paperback edition 1999, reprinted 2000 (twice)
New edition 2001, reprinted 2002 (twice)
New edition 2003, reprinted 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012
This digital edition published 2014
www.uqp.com.au
[email protected]
© Rosamond Siemon 1997
This book is copyright. Except for private study, research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.
Typeset by University of Queensland Press
Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group
Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
National Library of Australia
Siemon, Rosamond.
The Mayne Inheritance.
1. Mayne family. 2. Politicians - Queensland - Brisbane -
Biography. 3. Irish - Queensland - Brisbane - Biography.
4. Hospiral administrators - Queensland-Brisbane -
Biography. 5. Brisbane (QJ.d.)- Biography. I. Tide.
994.31030922
ISBN
978 0 7022 3422 4 (pbk)
978 0 7022 5482 6 (epdf)
978 0 7022 5483 3 (epub)
978 0 7022 5484 0 (Kindle)
The Mayne Inheritance Page 17
