John Graham MacDonald

Two years after the separation of Queensland in 1859, John Macdonald explored the districts drained by the Burdekin, Einasleigh and Lynd Rivers, and, on behalf of Southern financiers, amongst whom were Sir John Robertson and Captain Robert Towns, he established the Inkerman, Strathbogie, Dalrymple, Kirknie, Leichhardt Downs, and Carpentaria Downs pastoral stations.

For more than 10 years Mr. Macdonald managed pastoral stations stretching between Inkerman, near Bowen, and the Plains of Promise near the present site of Burketown, contending against floods, droughts, and other difficulties.

During the next twenty years, he filled positions of police magistrate, mining warden, and land commissioner at Springsure, Bowen, Townsville, and Warwick.

Mr Macdonald was over 70 years of age when he retired from the magisterial bench, but still desired to be active, so he became the chairman of probably a dozen wages boards, just then being established in accordance with an Act passed by the Kidston Government.

Subsequently, he became visiting Justice to St Helena Island, Boggo Road Gaol, and the various industrial schools and benevolent and mental asylums in the metropolitan district, an office which he filled with great tact and ability until his death.