11 Facts About James Duhig

Sir James Duhig KCMG was an Irish-born Australian Roman Catholic religious leader.

James Duhig was the Archbishop of Brisbane for 48 years from 1917 until his death in 1965.

James Duhig completed his education at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Queensland.

James Duhig's most ambitious project, the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Fortitude Valley, was a casualty of the Great Depression which destroyed the value of the investments that were to finance the project.

James Duhig was a great diplomat and was proud of his association with the College.

However, unlike his contemporary, Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne, who seemed to thrive on public attention, controversy and inflaming public passions, James Duhig favoured accommodation with the established order.

In February 1934, James Duhig was elected President of the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland.

In 1937 James Duhig successfully proposed that the River Road should be renamed Coronation Drive, to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.

James Duhig played a major role in the development of the University of Queensland, being a member of the university senate from 1916 until his death in 1965.

James Duhig established St Leo's College, where an annual lecture is given in his honour.

James Duhig was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1954 in recognition of service as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, and made a Knight Commander of the order in 1959 in recognition of service as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Queensland.