This grouping encompassed all but a few dissident liberal politicians in the Legislative Assembly and maintained control of the Parliament for two decades by steadily promoting its members into ministerial positions.
The Ministerialists, many of whom were businessmen for whom their parliamentary career was not their primary concern, were primarily conservative in character.
They supported the development of the colony's sugar cane, beef cattle, mining and wool industries that were to remain the backbone of Queensland's economy for a century.
The Ministry eventually broke apart completely after disgruntled backbenchers became embittered by their exclusion from the inner clique of cabinet ministers.
Digby Denham led a group into the coalition government of Arthur Morgan, and the Continuous Ministry came to an end.