Edward Barton Southerden

Edward Barton Southerden (1830–1906) was a businessman and politician in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was the first mayor of the Town of Sandgate (now part of the City of Brisbane) and was known as the "Father of Sandgate" as he was involved in all aspects of progress and welfare of the town.

Early life Southerden was born at St Peter's, Isle of Thanet, Kent, England on 21 November 1830. In 1848, he immigrated with his brother Samuel Southerden on the , the first of three ships chartered by the Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang to bring free immigrants to Brisbane, arriving in Moreton Bay on 21 January 1849.

Business life

Southerden spent 1849 in Brisbane and then moved to Ipswich where he was a sheep farmer. He then worked for H.M. Reeve's drapery business in Ipswich. In December 1853, he joined his brother Samuel Southerden in a drapery partnership in Brisbane Street, Ipswich. Their partnership was dissolved in March 1854. From there, he moved to Sydney where he worked for retail firm David Jones. He had returned to Brisbane in July 1854, purchasing the business where he had previously been employed and in January 1855 had established E. B. Southerden, Drapery Stores on Queen Street; the signage of the business appears in old Brisbane photos. The business was successful and he retired in 1864. In May 1880, the municipality had been established and Southerden was one of the first council elected. At the council's first meeting in June 1880, he was unanimously elected as the first mayor of the Town of Sandgate in June 1880. Southerden was active in lobbying the Queensland Government for the construction of the Sandgate railway line from Brisbane, which was completed in 1882.

Southerden was a Justice of the Peace for 35 years and served as the returning officer for the electoral district of Nundah for 17 years. He was trustee of the Bald Hills Cemetery at Sandgate for 25 years and was for many years a trustee of the Sandgate School of Arts.

Southerden was an active member of the Wharf Street Congregational Church in Brisbane for many years.

In 1874, Southerden established another residence, Langholme, at Sandgate, a popular beach holiday area north of Brisbane, where he established his residence, Langholme. His memorial service was held at the Sandgate Methodist Church.

Legacy Southerden's home at Wickham Terrace, then known as Bryntirion, was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1993.