Sir Alfred Sandlings Cowley (24 April 1848 – 1 December 1926)[1] was a politician in Queensland, Australia.

Early in 1871 Cowley left Natal for the Australian colonies, and was a resident of New South Wales for over two years, part of which time he was in charge of a central sugar-mill on the Macleay River.

[2] Cowley resided in the Maryborough district of Queensland for three years, during which time he was engaged in the cultivation and manufacture of sugar.

After that Cowley settled in the Lower Herbert district, and was actively employed in the sugar industry.

[3] Cowley was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the electoral district of Herbert on 12 May 1888, and on the formation of the Griffith–McIlwraith Government in August 1890 was appointed Secretary for Public Lands and Agriculture, and sworn of the Executive Council.