Paul Hilton
Encyclopedia
Paul Jerome Remigius Hilton (1 October 1899 — 18 August 1965) was an Australian politician, and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
from 1935 until 1963 representing the seat of Carnarvon
, and a minister in both the Hanlon
and Gair
Ministries.
Hilton was born to Richard Hilton, a school teacher, and his wife Agnes (née Quirke). He was educated at the state school in Allora
and in 1915 got a job as a pay clerk for Queensland Rail
ways, moving to Toowoomba
and ultimately Stanthorpe
by 1921. He served as an NCO in the militia but was rejected for overseas service for World War I
. In 1922, he married Esther Mary Clifford in the town of Gatton
; they were to have two sons and two daughters. He became involved with many public bodies in Stanthorpe at this time.
Hilton first ran for the seat of Carnarvon
(which was centred on Stanthorpe) at the 1932 election
before winning it at the 1935 election
. He became a supporter of the Industrial Groups
and the Catholic Social Studies Movement organised by B. A. Santamaria
, as well as being a member of the Order of St. Francis
. He also supported the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
and was the organiser of the Queensland Cancer Research Fund.
On 10 May 1950 he was appointed to the Hanlon Ministry
, serving as Secretary for Public Works, Housing and Local Government. The portfolio of Local Government was abolished on 1 May 1952, and he otherwise served in these roles until the 1956 election. He then became Secretary of Lands and Irrigation, relinquishing his old portfolios to Colin McCathie.
On 26 April 1957, Hilton along with Premier Vince Gair
and most of the rest of the Ministry were expelled from the Australian Labor Party, and joined the new Queensland Labor Party
with which they contested the 1957 election
. Hilton won under this banner at the 1957 and 1960 elections, and led the QLP for his final term before losing to Henry McKechnie of the Country Party at the 1963 election.
He retired to Esther Street, Ekibin (part of modern-day Tarragindi
) in Brisbane's inner southern suburbs, and died there on 18 August 1965. He was accorded a State funeral and buried in Nudgee cemetery.
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...
from 1935 until 1963 representing the seat of Carnarvon
Electoral district of Carnarvon
Carnarvon was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland that existed from 1873 to 1992.The district took in rural areas in southern Queensland, including the towns of Stanthorpe and Goondiwindi....
, and a minister in both the Hanlon
Hanlon Ministry
The Hanlon Ministry was a ministry of the Government of Queensland and was led by Labor Premier Ned Hanlon. It succeeded the Cooper Ministry on 7 March 1946 following Frank Cooper's resignation from the Ministry...
and Gair
Gair Ministry
The Gair Ministry was a ministry of the Government of Queensland and was led by Labor Premier Vince Gair. It succeeded the Hanlon Ministry on 17 January 1952 following Ned Hanlon's death two days earlier...
Ministries.
Hilton was born to Richard Hilton, a school teacher, and his wife Agnes (née Quirke). He was educated at the state school in Allora
Allora, Queensland
Allora is a town in south-western Queensland, Australia, on the Darling Downs 158 km south-west of the state capital, Brisbane. The town is in the Southern Downs Region. The township is located on the New England Highway between Warwick and Toowoomba...
and in 1915 got a job as a pay clerk for Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
ways, moving to Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
and ultimately Stanthorpe
Stanthorpe, Queensland
Stanthorpe is a town situated in south east Queensland, Australia. The town lies on the New England Highway near the New South Wales border 223 km from Brisbane via Warwick, 56 km north of Tenterfield and 811 m above sea level. The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt...
by 1921. He served as an NCO in the militia but was rejected for overseas service for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1922, he married Esther Mary Clifford in the town of Gatton
Gatton, Queensland
Gatton is a town and the administrative centre of the Lockyer Valley Local Government Area situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Gatton had a population of 5,295....
; they were to have two sons and two daughters. He became involved with many public bodies in Stanthorpe at this time.
Hilton first ran for the seat of Carnarvon
Electoral district of Carnarvon
Carnarvon was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland that existed from 1873 to 1992.The district took in rural areas in southern Queensland, including the towns of Stanthorpe and Goondiwindi....
(which was centred on Stanthorpe) at the 1932 election
Queensland state election, 1932
Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 11 June 1932 to elect the 62 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.The election was the first electoral test of the Country and Progressive National Party government led by Arthur Edward Moore, and was held in the midst of the Great...
before winning it at the 1935 election
Queensland state election, 1935
Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 11 May 1935 to elect the 62 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. The Labor government of Premier William Forgan Smith was seeking a second term after having defeated the Country and Progressive National Party in the 1932...
. He became a supporter of the Industrial Groups
Industrial Groups
The Industrial Groups were groups formed by the Australian Labor Party in the late 1940s, to combat Communist Party influence in the trade unions....
and the Catholic Social Studies Movement organised by B. A. Santamaria
B. A. Santamaria
Bartholomew Augustine "B. A." Santamaria, otherwise 'Bob' , was an Australian political activist and journalist and one of the most influential political figures in 20th century Australian history...
, as well as being a member of the Order of St. Francis
Secular Franciscan Order
thumb|rigth|Lapel pin of Secular Franciscan Order.The Secular Franciscan Order is a community of Catholic men and women, of any of the Rites in communion with Rome , in the world who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Secular Franciscans are...
. He also supported the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The St Vincent de Paul Society is an international Roman Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. Active in England & Wales since 1844, today it continues to address social and material need in all...
and was the organiser of the Queensland Cancer Research Fund.
On 10 May 1950 he was appointed to the Hanlon Ministry
Hanlon Ministry
The Hanlon Ministry was a ministry of the Government of Queensland and was led by Labor Premier Ned Hanlon. It succeeded the Cooper Ministry on 7 March 1946 following Frank Cooper's resignation from the Ministry...
, serving as Secretary for Public Works, Housing and Local Government. The portfolio of Local Government was abolished on 1 May 1952, and he otherwise served in these roles until the 1956 election. He then became Secretary of Lands and Irrigation, relinquishing his old portfolios to Colin McCathie.
On 26 April 1957, Hilton along with Premier Vince Gair
Vince Gair
Vincent Clare "Vince" Gair was an Australian politician. He served as Premier of Queensland from 1952 until 1957, when his stormy relations with the trade union movement saw him expelled from the Australian Labor Party. He was elected to the Australian Senate and led the Democratic Labor Party...
and most of the rest of the Ministry were expelled from the Australian Labor Party, and joined the new Queensland Labor Party
Queensland Labor Party
The Queensland Labor Party was a political party of Queensland, Australia formed in 1957 by a breakaway group of the then ruling Australian Labor Party Government after the expulsion of Premier Vince Gair...
with which they contested the 1957 election
Queensland state election, 1957
Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 3 August 1957 to elect the 75 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. The major parties contesting the election were the Queensland Labor Party led by Premier Vince Gair, the Australian Labor Party led by former Deputy Premier John...
. Hilton won under this banner at the 1957 and 1960 elections, and led the QLP for his final term before losing to Henry McKechnie of the Country Party at the 1963 election.
He retired to Esther Street, Ekibin (part of modern-day Tarragindi
Tarragindi, Queensland
Tarragindi is a suburb on the southern side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is represented through the Holland Park and Moorooka Ward councillors on the Brisbane City Council.-Origin of the name:...
) in Brisbane's inner southern suburbs, and died there on 18 August 1965. He was accorded a State funeral and buried in Nudgee cemetery.