20 Facts About Digby Denham

Digby Frank Denham was a politician and businessman in Queensland, Australia.

Digby Denham was a Premier of Queensland and Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Digby Denham was the first of only two Queensland Premiers to lose their own seat at a general election.

In 1881 Digby Denham migrated to South Australia where he formed a business partnership in Mallala with a commercial traveller, George Cable Knight.

Digby Denham married Knight's sister Alice Maud at North Adelaide on 16 April 1884: they were to have two daughters and a son.

Digby Denham opened a branch of the firm in Brisbane in 1886, and then bought out the firm in partnership with his brother in 1890, renaming it to Denham Bros, Produce and Grain Merchants.

Digby Denham became involved in several other companies over the following years and by the early 1900s he was chairman of the New Swanbank Colliery Co.

From February 1892 until 1902, Digby Denham served as a member, and for four years as chairman, of the Stephens Divisional Board based in Annerley.

Digby Denham was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1902 until 1915 representing the seat of Oxley, and was Premier of Queensland from 7 February 1911 to 1 June 1915.

Digby Denham campaigned in opposition to a state income tax which Robert Philp's government had proposed, although by the time he became premier in 1911, he had concluded that it was not high enough.

In September 1903 Philp's government resigned when its income tax measures were narrowly passed with three supporters, including Digby Denham, crossing the floor.

However, later that year, Kidston amalgamated his own party with Philp's as the Liberals, and Digby Denham returned to the ministry as Secretary for Public Lands.

Digby Denham was widely praised for his grasp of the legislation.

Digby Denham called an election, in which his government lost seats in Brisbane but won new seats in rural areas and retained office.

Digby Denham lost his own seat in the election, as did several of his ministers.

Digby Denham was the first of only two Queensland Premiers to lose his seat in a general election, the other being Campbell Newman in the 2015 election.

Digby Denham returned to business, establishing new firms in the Maryborough area in the late 1920s.

Digby Denham keenly supported the establishment of the University of Queensland, the ambulance service and the Baptist Church in Queensland.

Digby Denham was Grand Master of the Loyal Orange Institution of Queensland and frequently took the chair with Oxley True Blues LOL 19 who met at the Orange Hall in Sherwood.

Digby Denham died on 10 May 1944 at Annerley, survived by his wife and children.