This man is John Archibald who was a successful businessman as well as a member of Queensland's upper house of parliament.
Archibald was born in 1845 near Edinburgh in Scotland and migrated to Queensland in 1863, working firstly at Cribb & Foote's department store and then joining the Queensland civil service. In April 1888 he left government employment and became a partner in a flour milling enterprise, later forming the Dominion Milling Co Ltd. He was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1897. He was also elected as mayor of Warwick in 1890 and 1897.
In 1902 he settled in a house in New Farm called Glenugie. Archibald passed away in 1907 and his wife remained in the house until her death in 1929. Glenugie was listed for auction on 1 December 1926, as advertised in the Brisbane Courier of 13 November that year. I can only assume that the property did not sell, as further articles in the paper indicate that the house became "a gift" to the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. The Archibalds were staunch Methodists and at that time the house passed to the churches to be used as a hostel for girls. It was renamed Archibald House.
(Brisbane Courier 13 November 1926 via trove)
(Brisbane Courier 5 July 1930 via trove)
(Brisbane Courier 1 August 1930 via trove)
The charming house still stands. It is once again a private residence and here are a couple of photographs of it.
(Photo: DERM)
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