The first attempt at forming the association was undertaken by Charles Lilley and his supporters for the 1860 Queensland colonial election.
[1][2] Lilley was a strong believer in the party system and attempted to form the association to bring structure to the liberal cause.
[3] The liberals in the first parliament were disorganised and the measure was not successful, though they did support the Premier, Robert Herbert.
[4] A successful attempt was made in 1879, and colonial MPs Samuel Griffith, John Douglas (who had eschewed the 1859 attempt at forming an association[3]), James Dickson, James Garrick, and Peter McLean served as office-bearers of the new organisation.
[5] Samuel Griffith served as the organisation's first president, a position he held concurrently as leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly.