Rex Pilbeam was educated at Emu Park State School before attending Rockhampton High School and then earned his accountancy and secretarial qualifications by external studies.
26 Facts About Rex Pilbeam
1.
2.
Rex Pilbeam became a practising public accountant and joined the Australian Army in 1944, serving with the 61st Australian Infantry Battalion and being discharged the next year with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
3.
On 21 January 1927 Rex Pilbeam married Barbara Winning Rose and together they had two sons.
4.
Rex Pilbeam died in Brisbane in July 1999 and was cremated at the Albany Creek Crematorium in Brisbane.
5.
Rex Pilbeam first entered politics in 1952, elected to Rockhampton City Council as Mayor of Rockhampton at the age of 44.
6.
Rex Pilbeam was elected at the Rockhampton City Council election which was held on 31 May 1952, with a three-to-one majority over his nearest rival, Labour candidate Francis Baker.
7.
Rex Pilbeam was the Liberal Party member for Rockhampton South in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from the seat's inception in 1960 until his defeat by Keith Wright in 1969.
8.
Rex Pilbeam's mayoralty came to an end in 1982 when he was defeated by 41-year-old Jim Webber who was successful on his third attempt to unseat Rex Pilbeam.
9.
Webber said that his aim was to consult with more people than Rex Pilbeam did when making decisions and unlike Rex Pilbeam, he wouldn't be running "a one man show".
10.
Just over a year into his first term, Rex Pilbeam escalated to national notoriety when he was shot in the chest by a former lover.
11.
Jennings was arrested the day after shooting Rex Pilbeam and was charged with unlawfully attempting to kill.
12.
Rex Pilbeam worked at various firms in Brisbane before returning to Rockhampton in October 1952, when Pilbeam was several months into his first term as mayor.
13.
Rex Pilbeam was re-elected on 31 October 1953, but with a significantly reduced majority.
14.
Rex Pilbeam again became a national topic of conversation when a 19-year-old librarian assistant employed by Rockhampton City Council had her employment terminated in August 1977 because she got married.
15.
The movie starred Colin Friels, Kris McQuade and Harold Hopkins with Rex Pilbeam making a brief cameo appearance.
16.
Rex Pilbeam walked door-to-door and explained his vision for a swimming pool to be built in Rockhampton, before handing out money boxes for residents to donate any change they could spare.
17.
Rex Pilbeam declined to use a ceremonial spade to turn a small amount of earth.
18.
Rex Pilbeam became known for his yearning to establish an art gallery in Rockhampton.
19.
In 1965, Rex Pilbeam announced that the director of the Queensland Art Gallery, Laurence Thomas, would be visiting Rockhampton to discuss setting up a small gallery of artworks at City Hall.
20.
Rex Pilbeam said Rockhampton had the potential to be the first country branch of the Queensland Art Gallery.
21.
In 1976, Rex Pilbeam established an Art Acquisition Fund with several other community leaders including Bishop John Bayton, architect Neil McKendry and the director of the Rockhampton Art Gallery, Don Taylor.
22.
The Rex Pilbeam Theatre is a 1000-seat entertainment venue on the banks of the Fitzroy River which frequently plays host to Australian and internationally renowned performers and stage productions, as well as local productions.
23.
The venue was officially opened on 6 June 1979 by Sir Zelman Cowen who said at the time that Rex Pilbeam should take great pleasure in the theatre being named after him as recognition for his efforts for the city.
24.
The road was opened in May 1965 and was named Rex Pilbeam Drive, as it was said at the time that it was only Rex Pilbeam who had the "drive" to see the project through, and for having the vision of enabling tourists and locals alike to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
25.
Rex Pilbeam said he believed the ceremonial burning was an historic occasion as it signalled the end of an unpleasant and often unhealthy era for Rockhampton.
26.
In 1977, Rex Pilbeam sat for six sittings for renowned Australian artist Sir William Dargie as Dargie completed Portrait of Rex Pilbeam, an oil on canvas work featuring Pilbeam in a grey pin-striped suit with maroon tie.