John Murray

John Murray (15 August 1837 – 18 November 1917) was a pastoralist and politician in Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and the Queensland Legislative Council.

Early life Born in Mauchline in Ayrshire to coachman Peter Murray and Jean, née Witherspoon, he was educated locally and emigrated to the Victorian goldfields around 1852. In 1862 he and his brothers established a cattle shipping business in New South Wales, operating between Newcastle and New Zealand, although the latter's prohibition of cattle imports in 1864 due to pleuropneumonia in Australia ended the venture. In December of that year Murray relocated to Rockhampton, selecting around of land and growing sugarcane from 1872.

On 1 September 1873, Murray married Jane Elizabeth Hartley; they had three children, but Jane died in 1877. On 3 January 1882 Murray married Margaret McGavin, with whom he had four children.

Political life John Murray was an early member of the Gogango Divisional Board, serving as chairman on three occasions. By personally inspecting the land he finally overcame squatter opposition to an extension to Gayndah of what eventually became the Mungar to Monto railway line. Six years later the plateau had become known as the Binjour Plateau.

In 1901 he was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council and served as secretary for public instruction until August 1902 and minister without portfolio under Robert Philp until his retirement in 1903.

Later life Following his defeat in the federal election he retired to return to pastoralism, purchasing Beaconsfield East and West stations at Ilfracombe in 1911. He later lived mostly at his residence Tullibardine at 148 Merthyr Road, New Farm, Brisbane.