Central Queensland Territorial Separation League
Encyclopedia
The Central Queensland Territorial Separation League was formed in Rockhampton
in 1889 with the aim of agitating for separation of the Central Queensland
region from the (then) colony of Queensland
. The Separatists’ main complaints were the perceived under-representation of the Central region in the colonial Parliament, located in Brisbane
, some 700 kilometres to the south of Rockhampton, and the use of Central Queensland taxes and finances to fund the Queensland Government.
Agitation for the division of Queensland into two or three smaller colonies had been a political question in the colony ever since Queensland separated from New South Wales
in 1859. Earlier, unsuccessful, political movements for Central Queensland secession
from Queensland had been launched in the 1860s and 1870s.
George Curtis
(1845–1922), a prominent Rockhampton auctioneer and landholder, became the first president of the CQTSL and was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
(the lower house of the Queensland Parliament) in 1893 where he used his position to agitate for the aims of the CQTSL in Parliament.
The CQTSL’s campaign was ultimately unsuccessful. When the Australian colonies federated
in 1901, the new nation’s Constitution
placed the power to further divide colonies (or States
as they now became) in the hands of the parent colony or state, with no avenue for referral to the British
Government.
Further movements for the establishment of a new state in Central Queensland, with Rockhampton as the capital, occurred in the 1950s.
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
in 1889 with the aim of agitating for separation of the Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
region from the (then) colony of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. The Separatists’ main complaints were the perceived under-representation of the Central region in the colonial Parliament, located in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, some 700 kilometres to the south of Rockhampton, and the use of Central Queensland taxes and finances to fund the Queensland Government.
Agitation for the division of Queensland into two or three smaller colonies had been a political question in the colony ever since Queensland separated from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1859. Earlier, unsuccessful, political movements for Central Queensland secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from Queensland had been launched in the 1860s and 1870s.
George Curtis
George Curtis (Australian politician)
George Silas Curtis was an Australian politician. He was twice a member of the Queensland Parliament, first as the Independent member for Rockhampton in the Legislative Assembly from 1893 to 1902 and then as a Labor member of the Legislative Council from 1914 to 1922....
(1845–1922), a prominent Rockhampton auctioneer and landholder, became the first president of the CQTSL and was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
(the lower house of the Queensland Parliament) in 1893 where he used his position to agitate for the aims of the CQTSL in Parliament.
The CQTSL’s campaign was ultimately unsuccessful. When the Australian colonies federated
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
in 1901, the new nation’s Constitution
Constitution of Australia
The Constitution of Australia is the supreme law under which the Australian Commonwealth Government operates. It consists of several documents. The most important is the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia...
placed the power to further divide colonies (or States
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
as they now became) in the hands of the parent colony or state, with no avenue for referral to the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Government.
Further movements for the establishment of a new state in Central Queensland, with Rockhampton as the capital, occurred in the 1950s.
See also
- Proposals for new Australian StatesProposals for new Australian StatesA number of proposals for the creation of additional states in Australia have been made in the past century. However, to date, none have been added to the Commonwealth since Federation in 1901...
- State of North QueenslandState of North QueenslandThere have been a few calls for the division of the Australian state of Queensland into a new state. Some proposals have been drawn up, regarding the borders, name and the debate over which city will become the capital, but they remain vague and are not supported by any mass movement.-History:In...
- Central QueenslandCentral QueenslandCentral Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
- Regions of QueenslandRegions of QueenslandThe Regions of Queensland refers to the geographic areas of the Australian state of Queensland. Due to its large size and decentralised population, the state is often divided into regions for statistical and administrative purposes. Each region varies somewhat in terms of its economy, population,...