During his early years he was an engine-driver and railways unionist before serving as an Alderman on Ipswich Council.

Wilkinson represented the Electoral district of Ipswich in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1894 to 1896 for the Australian Labor Party.

[2] He was elected for the seat of Moreton in the Parliament of Australia in 1901, as an Independent Labour member, but rejoined the Labor Party in 1903.

[4] A number of street names in the Brisbane suburb of Carina Heights are identical to the surnames of former Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives is a stub.