[5] Archibald Watson was (briefly) the last mayor of Town of Toowong prior to its amalgamation into Greater Brisbane in 1925.

In April 1926, Hugh Russell the Deputy Mayor and Alderman for Toombul resigned to run for a seat in the State Assembly.

Upon William Jolly's mid-term retirement in early 1931, Watson was then duly elected by a majority of Alderman Lord Mayor for a brief period between 24 February and 11 May 1931.

After the formation of the anti-Labor Citizens' Municipal Organisation, Watson unsuccessfully sought to be nominated as the CMO Lord Mayoral candidate, with the incumbent John William Greene being selected.

Watson was however successful in obtaining the CMO nomination for the Toowong Ward for the 1937 election,[8] which he failed to win against conservative independent Harry Massey.