Brisbane's first businessman - a coal miner who followed his convict fiance to Australia in 1832 - has been inducted into the 2014 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
John Williams, who sailed into Brisbane in 1840 and set up the city's first privately-run general store at what is now South Bank, was last night recognised as a pioneer in Queensland's rich business history.
Now in its sixth year, the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame is a joint initiative between QUT Business School, State Library of Queensland and the Queensland Library Foundation. It celebrates those organisations and individuals who have enhanced the state's reputation and economy.
Mr Williams and five other Queensland business leaders from past and present were inducted into the Hall of Fame by Governor of Queensland Penelope Wensley during a black-tie gala event at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre last night (THURSDAY JULY 17).
Born in the UK in 1799, Mr Williams came to Australia after his fiancé Sarah Davis was convicted of receiving stolen goods and sentenced to seven years transportation to New South Wales.
He sailed from Sydney to Brisbane and, recognising settlers in the south of the city wanted supplies, secured the "Number One" permit to trade and established a store where the Wheel of Brisbane at South Bank now stands.
Carefully reinvesting profits, Mr Williams built a small but diverse business empire incorporating shipping, trading, and an industry he played a key role in establishing in the state - coal mining.
He was also the first in Brisbane to have a ferry license - a huge advantage in an era without bridges - and would transfer people across the Brisbane River in his vessel, nicknamed, Time Killer.
Mr Williams was an industrious man but the adopted Queenslander also embraced the Australian larrikin spirit, according to Brisbane historian Helen Gregory.
"Williams could probably be described as being willing to creatively manage the regulatory environment," Ms Gregory said.
"When the bullockies brought their teams to Brisbane there was nowhere for them to stay so he expanded his store to provide accommodation. His permit to run a store banned him from selling liquors ... but, from some of the reports of rollicking behaviour, it's quite clear a bit of drinking was going on."
QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Little said Mr Williams was one of the first in Brisbane to recognise business opportunities and had been prepared to take risks to build his business legacy.
Ms Gregory said Mr Williams was a worthy inductee into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame because he was "the first to run and develop organised businesses in early Brisbane".
"He displayed many of the characteristics that make successful businesses; he was persistent, took risks, carefully managed his resources and was a very hard worker," she said.
"His lasting legacy is he was Brisbane's first businessman who led the way in showing how trade could be used to create connections in a growing society. He set the path which countless others have followed."
State Librarian Janette Wright said the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame was an important initiative in remembering, recognising and re-telling the stories of businesses and individuals who had played a vital role in the state's business landscape.
The Hall of Fame space resides within State Library of Queensland, while the digital story collection is available online at www.halloffame.slq.qld.gov.au
The full list of inductees into the 2014 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame are:
•Sir Vincent Fairfax
•Sarah Jenyns (corset pioneer)
•John Williams (Brisbane's first businessman)
•Bank of Queensland
•RACQ
•Teys Australia
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Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
